Particle physics and the conscious mind: debating Almada’s optimism

Beginning with a study of the basic components of the physical world, Almada is developing an explanation of the emergence of the conscious mind. In order to recognize and publicize this enterprise, which is not yet finished, this note (i) offers an overview of Almada’s approach; (ii) challenges his optimism with the well-known hard problem of consciousness; and (iii) argues that his research can be pushed ahead by a coherent conceptual account of emergence.