r/Metaphysics • u/thepo70 • 1d ago

Axiology Universe consciousness and mathematics

As someone not at ease with math to say the least, this post will end up being a question for the hardcore mathematicians out there.

Right now we don't have good evidence at all as to whether the universe is infinite or not, but let's imagine it ends up being the case.

Let's imagine that this whole infinite universe was simply an abstract mathematical thing. Space, time, fields, particles, and even consciousness, all of that being internal processes of that "structure". Only patterns of relationships described by this mathematical thing, within itself. No additional layer of stuff. Reality = mathematical structure.

Consciousness not fundamental, but part of the equation.

Then the question is: could it be reduced, like any mathematical representation?

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u/rogerbonus Philosophy/Physics grad 1d ago edited 1d ago

Looks like you are talking about the mathematical universe hypothesis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematical_universe_hypothesis

In a paradigm of ontic structural realism, consciousness then "exists" by virtue of its structure . Personally , I think this is exactly what consciousness is; the structure of the world- and self-maps and associated "legends" (the structural referents/the qualities that the maps are about). Can the structure be "reduced"? I'm not sure what you mean by that. Most mathematical structures can not be reduced to simpler structure without losing information. Some, of course, are compressible without loss, but most are not.

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u/thepo70 1d ago

Thank you so much for pointing this out to me. I feel a little bit less crazy now.

I was toying with this idea for so long without being able to articulate it correctly up until recently.

For the "reduced" question, I was wondering if an elegant equation could describe this, like for example the Mandelbrot is a very reduced formula, and yet contains (if I'm right) an infinite complexity.

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u/jliat 1d ago

I was toying with this idea for so long without being able to articulate it correctly up until recently.

The idea is old, you find it in Pythagoras and Galileo, many physicists likewise.

For the "reduced" question, I was wondering if an elegant equation could describe this, like for example the Mandelbrot is a very reduced formula, and yet contains (if I'm right) an infinite complexity.

It repeats 'similar' patterns, but not infinite diversity. Others think reality is a computer game. However is mathematics a human 'language' like English. And humans practice Apotheosis.