4.3 Computational Panpsychism: If an Electron Has Weak Entanglement and Self-Reference, Does It Possess Extremely Weak “Proto-consciousness”?

In the previous two sections, we defined “color” as topological fingerprints on the information manifold and “emotion” as the dynamical evolution of free energy. These derivations seem to be based on an implicit premise: the observer is a highly complex brain.

This raises the most thorny boundary problem in consciousness research: if consciousness emerges from physical structures ($M_I$, self-reference, entanglement), does this emergence have an absolute “from nothing to something” threshold?

In other words: Does a dog have qualia? An ant? A cell? Even… an electron?

In traditional philosophy, Panpsychism holds that everything has a mind. This is usually regarded as unscientific mysticism. But under our QCA computational ontology framework, panpsychism acquires a strict, quantifiable, demystified physical form.

This section will propose: Consciousness is not an all-or-nothing property, but a continuous physical spectrum. Even a fundamental particle, as a self-referential topological knot in the QCA network, possesses non-zero (though extremely weak) information mass, and thus has “proto-consciousness.”

4.3.1 Continuity Argument: Nature Makes No Leaps

Let us recall the physical definition of consciousness we established in Chapter 8 (Book 2):

1. Boundary: Possesses a Markov Blanket, distinguishing inside and outside.

2. Self-reference: Has an internal model capable of simulating the relationship between self and environment (Strange Loop).

3. Purpose: Minimizes free energy through action (resisting entropy increase).

Human brains obviously satisfy these conditions with extremely high complexity. Now, let us trace backward along the evolutionary ladder:

• Primates: Obviously conscious.

• Simple vertebrates: Have pain responses, learning ability, clear Markov blanket (skin).

• Single-celled organisms: Although without neurons, the cell membrane is a perfect Markov blanket. The metabolic network inside the cell is a complex chemical computer that can sense environmental gradients (food/toxins) and adjust movement (chemotaxis). This fully conforms to the definition of “minimizing free energy.”

• Viruses/macromolecules: Protein folding is a computational process seeking free energy minima.

If we cannot find an obvious “consciousness switch” in the biological world, what about the non-biological world?

Let us look at electrons.

In Chapter 5 (Book 2), we proved that massive particles (such as electrons) are topological knots in the QCA network.

1. Boundary: The locality of the topological knot defines its “inside.”

2. Self-reference: To maintain mass (inertia), it must continuously refresh its internal state ($v_{int}>0$). This is the most primitive self-maintenance loop.

3. Purpose: An electron’s motion in an electromagnetic field follows the principle of least action, which is mathematically equivalent to some form of path optimization.

If in the chain from human brain to electron, the complexity of physical structures ($M_I$) continuously decreases, what reason do we have to assume that “experience” suddenly “pops out” at some magical node?

A more reasonable assumption is: The richness of experience (Intensity/Complexity) continuously decreases with $M_I$, but is non-zero in any massive self-referential entity.

4.3.2 Electron’s “Inner View”: One-Bit Qualia

If an electron has “consciousness,” what does it feel? This absolutely does not mean the electron thinks “Who am I?” or feels “happy.”

According to our geometric phenomenology (Section 4.1), qualia are topological shapes in Hilbert space.

• Human brain: State space is $10^{15}$-dimensional, entanglement structure complex as a maze. Our experience is a colorful symphony.

• Electron: Internal space is $SU(2)$ (spin). Its states have only two bases (up/down) and their superpositions.

  • Its “internal model” is extremely simple: it only “knows” the relationship between its spin direction and the environmental magnetic field.

  • Its “free energy minimization” is extremely primitive: it tends to align with the magnetic field direction (lowest energy).

Therefore, an electron’s “experience” may be just an extremely monotonous, one-dimensional “vector sense”.

• When it aligns with the magnetic field, it feels “smooth” (low free energy).

• When it opposes the magnetic field, it feels “tense” (high free energy).

This experience is extremely weak, monotonous, without memory, without reflection. It is like a screen with only 1 pixel. Although it glows, it cannot display any image.

We call this most basic unit of experience “proto-qualia”.

4.3.3 QCA Implementation of Integrated Information Theory (IIT)

Giulio Tononi’s Integrated Information Theory (IIT) proposes $\Phi$ value to measure consciousness. In QCA, $\Phi$ corresponds to the irreducibility of network entanglement.

• A pile of sand: Although there are many atoms, atoms are not entangled (or only have extremely short-range entanglement). The system can be decomposed into subsystems without loss. ${\Phi }_{sand}\approx \sum {\Phi }_{atom}\approx 0$ (as a whole). Sand has no overall consciousness, only countless tiny atomic proto-consciousness.

• An electron: It is an integral topological knot, indivisible. ${\Phi }_{electron}>0$. It is a tiny entity.

• A brain: Neurons establish long-range entanglement (synchronized firing). ${\Phi }_{brain}\gg \sum {\Phi }_{neuron}$. Countless tiny proto-consciousness fuse through quantum fusion into a huge macroscopic consciousness.

Conclusion:

The universe is not composed of dead matter, but of computational units that themselves possess weak inner vision.

• When these units are loosely piled, they are matter (unconscious collections).

• When these units are tightly entangled and form high-order self-referential structures, they emerge as mind (conscious wholes).

The physicalization of panpsychism eliminates the binary opposition between “mind” and “matter.”

Mind is high-dimensional matter, matter is low-dimensional mind. In the spin of electrons, we see the embryo of our souls.

(End of Chapter 4)

(Author’s Note: At this point, we have completed our exploration of “the geometry of consciousness.” We have defined self, memory, free will, and provided physical models of qualia and emotion. In the next Part III “The Internet of Minds,” we will step out of individual solitude to explore connections between consciousnesses—love and society.)