In the modern world of philosophy and cognitive sciences, the discussion about how lifeless “cold” physical matter gives rise to vivid subjective experiences holds an important place.

The Fusion of Matter and Mind

In the modern world of philosophy and cognitive sciences, the discussion about how lifeless “cold” physical matter gives rise to vivid subjective experiences holds an important place. Initially, matter is presented as a kind of foundation that possesses quantitative characteristics governed by mathematical laws of motion and mutual gravitation. However, it is precisely through our sensations and subsequent mental processes that this cold substance turns into something far greater.

The essence of the process is that immediate sensory data by themselves do not create a coherent and meaningful image of reality. It is only through active imagination and mental processing that this “raw” information becomes structured, acquiring vivid individuality and meaning. Thus, matter finds itself at the intersection of two orders – on the one hand, it is measured and analyzed by physics, and on the other, thanks to special acts of consciousness, it becomes the arena for the emergence of thought and self-awareness.

In conclusion, it can be noted that the transformation of the physical substrate into a full-fledged lived experience demonstrates the amazing unity of the strict laws of nature and the dynamic processes of the mind. This dual aspect not only sheds light on the mysterious mechanism of the formation of subjective experience but also emphasizes the importance of mental contribution in creating material reality as we perceive it.

How can lifeless matter generate subjective experience?

According to the cited passages, the explanation for the phenomenon of subjective experience generated by a non-sentient matter is built on the distinction between merely physical properties of matter and the qualities that emerge within the framework of conscious experience. That is, matter in itself is only a substrate possessing certain quantitative characteristics (for example, motion and mutual attraction), but when our sensations act upon this substrate, a transformation occurs – an independent act of imagination or a mental process “puzzles” the raw sensory data, turning them into a coherent experience.

As noted in one of the sources:
"Thus, in order to form a definite objective phenomenon from such data—which by themselves do not represent a certain unity or objective reality—a certain independent act (that is, one that does not consist merely of sensations) is clearly necessary, and we call this act of imagination. Hence, the reality of an objective phenomenon is provided not by sensory experience but by imagination; it is revealed not in the sensations of the senses but in the images or ideas of the mind." (source: link txt)

This text emphasizes that immediate sensations alone cannot form a coherent reality; an additional mental (imaginative) act is required to structure and give unity to the various sensory data. In other words, matter gives rise to subjective experience through a two-stage process: the first stage is the immediate physical impact (belonging to the realm of touch and the external world), and the second stage is the active mental processing of these sensations, which imbues them with meaning, form, and individuality.

This duality in the qualities of matter is also evident in the remarks of another source:
"If sensation belongs solely to the organic body, and if, therefore, it is a phenomenon derived from matter, then it must be categorized as a secondary quality, and all previous difficulties arise once again. On the contrary, by considering it as an attribute of matter in general, we would avoid these difficulties, though under the name of matter we would be referring to something different from the mass whose motion and changes are determined mathematically. We would have to say: the same substrate possesses two orders of qualities—gravitation and self-perception, motion and thought." (source: link txt)

Here, it is pointed out that matter can be considered not only as a “cold” object subject to mathematical laws but also as a bearer of potential qualities that foster the emergence of self-awareness and thought. Thus, the transformation of lifeless matter into a source of subjective experience is explained by the presence of certain mental processing acts (imagination) in the human mind and by the fact that matter possesses a dual nature – on one hand, it is an object that is physically measurable, and on the other, within certain processes, it becomes a “platform” for the emergence and manifestation of mental (subjective) qualities.