# The Closure of the Physical, Consciousness and Scientific Practice

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.03518 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.03518/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 24 Sep 2021.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [If consciousness is dynamically relevant, artificial intelligence isn't conscious](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.05077/) (2023)
- [Information as Maximum-Caliber Deviation: A bridge between Integrated Information Theory and the Free Energy Principle](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.12536/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We analyse the implications of the closure of the physical for experiments in the scientific study of consciousness when all the details are considered, especially how measurement results relate to physical events. It turns out that the closure of the physical has surprising implications that conflict with scientific practice. These implications point to a fundamental flaw in the paradigm underlying many experiments conducted to date and pose a challenge to any research programme that aims to ground a physical functionalist or identity-based understanding of consciousness on empirical observations.