Federico Faggin’s Philosophy on Consciousness

Federico Faggin, the engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur known for creating the first microprocessor, has developed an innovative theory of consciousness that tackles the “hard problem” of consciousness and proposes a new metaphysical framework for quantum mechanics. His perspective emerges from his extensive experience in technology and his personal research into non-material aspects of consciousness.

The Hard Problem of Consciousness

David Chalmers formulated the "hard problem" of consciousness as the question of how and why neural activity in the brain gives rise to subjective experiences (qualia). Traditional science considers consciousness an emergent property of brain complexity, but Faggin offers a radically different perspective:

1. Consciousness is fundamental and primary: it is not a byproduct of the brain but exists independently of matter.
2. The material world is an expression of consciousness: rather than consciousness emerging from matter, matter itself is shaped by consciousness.
3. The Self is irreducible and unified: each individual is a unique manifestation of a universal consciousness.
4. Information alone cannot explain consciousness: unlike computers and AI, which process information but lack subjectivity and intentionality, consciousness involves direct experience.

Faggin proposes a reinterpretation of quantum mechanics based on the primacy of consciousness. He builds upon key quantum phenomena that challenge materialist views and integrates them into his metaphysical framework.

Federico Faggin’s Quantum Metaphysics

One of the most enigmatic and debated aspects of quantum mechanics is the collapse of the wavefunction. In the standard interpretation of quantum mechanics, physical systems exist in a superposition of multiple states until they are observed. This raises the profound question: what causes the collapse of possibilities into a single reality? 

Federico Faggin’s metaphysical interpretation suggests that consciousness itself plays an active role in this process. Rather than being a passive observer of an already-determined reality, consciousness participates in shaping what is actualized. In this view, observation is not merely an act of measurement but an act of creation, where consciousness determines the outcome of quantum potentialities. 

This perspective aligns with interpretations of quantum mechanics that emphasize the role of the observer, such as the von Neumann–Wigner interpretation, but extends further by positing consciousness as the foundational element of reality rather than an emergent property of the brain.

This framework naturally leads to the idea that the universe is fundamentally interconnected, a notion strongly supported by the phenomenon of quantum entanglement. When two particles become entangled, their states remain correlated regardless of the distance between them, even across vast cosmic scales. The speed at which this correlation manifests exceeds the limits of classical physics, defying the constraints of locality. 

If consciousness is indeed fundamental, then this interconnectedness might not be merely a physical anomaly but a reflection of a deeper unity within reality itself. The separation between objects, beings, and events could perhaps appears from our limited perception, while at the most fundamental level, all things are interwoven within a single, complex and conscious reality. This evokes the concept of Wholeness which is central to our research in the Science & Philosophy Institute.

However, contrasting with our approach, Faggin suggest that matter itself is not independent of consciousness but rather a manifestation of it. Classical physics treats matter as the fundamental substrate of reality, governed by deterministic laws. However, quantum mechanics reveals a world in which particles do not have fixed properties until they are measured, existing instead as a field of probabilities. 

Faggin argues that these probabilities are not mere abstract mathematical constructs but expressions of consciousness interacting with the physical world. In this sense, what we perceive as "matter" is not an independent entity but rather the structured unfolding of consciousness into form. As such, the laws of physics do not emerge from an abstract mathematical framework but from an intrinsic intelligence embedded within reality itself.

This leads to a redefinition of information at the quantum level. In classical computation and physics, information is treated as a purely quantitative measure, devoid of intrinsic meaning. However, if consciousness is primary, then quantum information is not just numerical data—it is qualitative and experiential. 

What Faggin proposes is not merely an extension of quantum theory but a profound rethinking of reality itself, where consciousness and matter are inseparably intertwined, and the universe is understood as a living, conscious whole.

A new Model of Reality: Internal and External Reality

Faggin introduces a dual model of reality, which he calls "Internal Reality" and "External Reality":

• External Reality (Material World): the world described by classical and quantum physics, governed by objective laws but devoid of subjectivity.
• Internal Reality (Consciousness): the domain of subjective experience, intuition, and creativity.

According to Faggin, consciousness is not a byproduct of the brain but the fundamental essence from which the material universe emerges. Internal Reality shapes and informs External Reality.

If consciousness is fundamental and the universe is its manifestation, several profound implications arise:

• Science must integrate subjectivity: the purely objective study of reality is insufficient and a new paradigm is needed that acknowledges the active role of consciousness.
• Computers will never achieve consciousness: while AI can simulate intelligence, it will never possess true awareness, or a subjective experience deeply interconnected to its larger context.
• Quantum mechanics must be reinterpreted: the observer’s role is not just epistemological (as in the Copenhagen interpretation) but ontological.
• Life has an inherent purpose: if consciousness is primary, then the universe is not random or mechanical but follows an evolution guided by conscious purpose.

Federico Faggin’s theory offers a revolutionary perspective on consciousness and reality, proposing that consciousness is the fundamental essence of existence, while matter is merely one of its expressions. His theory provides a possible answer to the hard problem of consciousness and suggests a new interpretative framework for quantum mechanics, moving beyond reductionist materialism toward a metaphysical vision where each individual is a unique manifestation of the universal primeval consciousness.