Non-reductive Physicalism

Описание: Non-reductive Physicalism (2021) for prepared piano and electronics

Physicalism is a philosophical position that argues that everything in the universe has an inherent physicality and nothing extends beyond a fundamental physical existence. Within neurophilosophy, and specifically the study of consciousness, two main categories of physicalism have emerged to grapple with the mind-body problem. Reductive physicalism asserts that all mental states are fully reducible to physical states. Non-reductive physicalism, however, posits that while a change in mental state is only possible through a physical change in the brain, the totality of the mind is not reducible to a physical state.

This piece uses an augmented instrument to explore ideas of the mind-body dichotomy and complex phenomena that are brought forth by simpler physical actuations and processes. To implement this, a dc motor, several solenoids and surface exciters, a microphone array, and a flexible processing and control system were created and installed on a piano. The control system, programmed within Max/MSP, sends voltages and audio signals via an Arduino circuit to the various devices. This is the first realization of a concept that I hope to continue to explore and develop as an ongoing project.