CAN WE SOLVE THE OBSERVER PROBLEM BY SEEING QUANTUM FIELDS AS CONSCIOUS? ARE FREE WILL AND CONSCIOUSNESS FUNDAMENTAL? DOE THE UNIVERSE ITSELF HAVE AGENCY RATHER THAN BEHAVING RANDOMLY?​​

 

In this episode we have the interesting possibility of a teleological universe to discuss, that is whether the universe exists for a purpose or purposes, and if it displays goal directed behaviour, i.e. agency. To do this we’re going to get into a new interpretation of panpsychism, involving quantum fields as conscious agents and interpreters of meaning; we get also into the difference between digital and biological intelligence and knowing.

 

To face this tough topic we have as our guest the inventor of the computer microprocessor, turned consciousness researcher; physicist and computer scientist Federico Faggin.

Federico has written three research papers and many books for the general public including his 2021 book “Silicon”, his 2024 book “Irreducible: Consciousness, Life, Computers, and Human Nature”, and now his most recent 2026 book, “Beyond the Invisible”.

 

What we discussed:

00:00 Intro.

09:45 Federico’s mystical experience that inspired his theory.

17:00 The universe is wholistic, entanglement is the rule, there are no boundaries.

18:40 QIM - Quantum Information Theory.

19:15 Are consciousness and free will more fundamental than quantum mechanics?

22:30 Consciousness and free will are ontological properties of the whole.

28:15 New knowings are creations not discoveries.

35:20 Seities - conscious agential quantum fields.

38:45 Ontology found in our interiority.

40:00 Body-mind-spirit superimposed, bridging classical, quantum and meaning information.

46:50 Mind acts like a quantum computer.

48:30 The subject object divide dissolves.

51:45 A holographic principle - Part-whole of One.

01:01:45 The purpose of the universe is to know itself.

01:03:57 Artificial VS biological knowing and intelligence.

01:12:20 Love is a cosmological constant that unites matter, mind and spirit.

 

References:

Federico Faggin, “Beyond the invisible” , 2026

Federico Faggin, “Irreducible”, 2024

Fedrico Faggin & Giacomo Mauro D’Ariano, ‘Hard Problem and Free Will: an information-theoretical approach’, paper.

Roger Penrose et al, ‘Artificial intelligence vs natural intelligence’ paper.

​

​

​