A relational approach to consciousness: categories of level and contents of consciousness

Characterizing consciousness in and of itself is notoriously difficult. Here, we propose an alternative approach to characterize, and eventually define, consciousness through exhaustive descriptions of consciousness’ relationships to all other consciousness. This approach is founded in category theory. Indeed, category theory can prove that two objects A and B in a category can be equivalent if and only if all the relationships that A holds with others in the category are the same as those of B; this proof is called the Yoneda lemma. To introduce the Yoneda lemma, we gradually introduce key concepts of category theory to consciousness researchers. Along the way, we propose several possible definitions of categories of consciousness, both in terms of level and contents, through the usage of simple examples. We propose to use the categorical structure of consciousness as a gold standard to formalize empirical research (e.g. color qualia structure at fovea and periphery) and, especially, the empirical testing of theories of consciousness.

Enriched category as a model of qualia structure based on similarity judgements

Qualitative relationships between two instances of conscious experiences can be quantified through the perceived similarity. Previously, we proposed that by defining similarity relationships as arrows and conscious experiences as objects, we can define a category of qualia in the context of category theory. However, the example qualia categories we proposed were highly idealized and limited to cases where perceived similarity is binary: either present or absent without any gradation. Here, we introduce enriched category theory to address the graded levels of similarity that arises in many instances of qualia. Enriched categories generalize the concept of a relation between objects as a directed arrow (or morphism) in ordinary category theory to a more flexible notion, such as a measure of distance. As an alternative relation, here we propose a graded measure of perceived dissimilarity between the two objects. We claim that enriched categories accommodate various types of conscious experiences. An important extension of this claim is the application of the Yoneda lemma in enriched category; we can characterize a quale through a collection of relationships between the quale and the other qualia up to an (enriched) isomorphism.

Enriched category as a model of qualia structure based on similarity judgements

Qualitative relationships between two instances of conscious experiences can be quantified through the perceived similarity. Previously, we proposed that by defining similarity relationships as arrows and conscious experiences as objects, we can define a category of qualia in the context of category theory. However, the example qualia categories we proposed were highly idealized and limited to cases where perceived similarity is binary: either present or absent without any gradation. When similarity is graded, a situation can arise where A0 is similar to A1, A1 is similar to A2, and so on, yet A0 is not similar to An, which is called the Sorites paradox. Here, we introduce enriched category theory to address this situation. Enriched categories generalize the concept of a relation between objects as a directed arrow (or morphism) in ordinary category theory to a more flexible notion, such as a measure of distance. As an alternative relation, here we propose a graded measure of perceived dissimilarity between the two objects. These measures combine in a way that addresses the Sorites paradox; even if the dissimilarity between Ai and Ai+1 is small for i = 0 … n, hence perceived as similar, the dissimilarity between A0 and An can be large, hence perceived as different. In this way, we show how dissimilarity-enriched categories of qualia resolve the Sorites paradox. We claim that enriched categories accommodate various types of conscious experiences. An important extension of this claim is the application of the Yoneda lemma in enriched category; we can characterize a quale through a collection of relationships between the quale and the other qualia up to an (enriched) isomorphism.

The Yoneda Lemma and Coherence

In this chapter, the Yoneda Lemma and the Coherence Theorem for bicategories are stated and proved. The chapter discusses the bicategorical Yoneda pseudofunctor, a bicategorical version of the Yoneda embedding for a bicategory, which is a local equivalence, and the Bicategorical Yoneda Lemma. A consequence of the Bicategorical Whitehead Theorem and the Bicategorical Yoneda Embedding is the Bicategorical Coherence Theorem, which states that every bicategory is biequivalent to a 2-category.

Functors, Transformations, and Modifications

This chapter discusses functors, transformations, and modifications that are bicategorical analogs of functors and natural transformations. The main concepts covered are lax functors, lax transformations, modifications, and icons. A section is devoted to representable pseudofunctors, representable transformations, and representable modifications, which will be used in the Bicategorical Yoneda Lemma.

2-Dimensional Categories

2-Dimensional Categories provides an introduction to 2-categories and bicategories, assuming only the most elementary aspects of category theory. A review of basic category theory is followed by a systematic discussion of 2-/bicategories; pasting diagrams; lax functors; 2-/bilimits; the Duskin nerve; the 2-nerve; internal adjunctions; monads in bicategories; 2-monads; biequivalences; the Bicategorical Yoneda Lemma; and the Coherence Theorem for bicategories. Grothendieck fibrations and the Grothendieck construction are discussed next, followed by tricategories, monoidal bicategories, the Gray tensor product, and double categories. Completely detailed proofs of several fundamental but hard-to-find results are presented for the first time. With exercises and plenty of motivation and explanation, this book is useful for both beginners and experts.

Categories

In this chapter, categories are defined, and basic concepts are reviewed. Starting from the definitions of a category, a functor, and a natural transformation, the chapter reviews limits, adjunctions, equivalences, the Yoneda Lemma, monads, monoidal categories, and Mac Lane's Coherence Theorem. Enriched categories, which provide one characterization of 2-categories, are also discussed. This chapter makes this book self-contained and accessible to beginners.

Philosophical Sketches on Category Theory Applied to Music-Mathematical Polar Semiotics

This is an attempt to combine Matthai philosophy (of Heraclitan inspiration) and Category Theory using the Yoneda Lemma as a means for harmonizing the traditionally opposite values and conceptions dissociated between the Euclidean tradition and Heraclitus thought. The text is divided in three sections: general background and description of Yoneda, a contextualization on Heraclitan aesthetics and polar semiotics (a notion firstly intuited by I. M. Lotman and Th. Sebeok), and an experiment suggested for the revision of the grounds of music theory, with the purpose of conciliate extremely dissociated notions of music (Euclidean vs. Heraclitan) however making part of a common musical experience and knowledge. Conclusions are addressed to hypothesize that Yoneda lemma may support a robust philosophy of music within the field of Category Theory where any group is isomorphic to a subgroup of a permutation, with one-to-one paired correspondences.

The nominal/FM Yoneda Lemma

This paper explores versions of the Yoneda Lemma in settings founded upon FM sets. In particular, we explore the lemma for three base categories: the category of nominal sets and equivariant functions; the category of nominal sets and all finitely supported functions, introduced in this paper; and the category of FM sets and finitely supported functions. We make this exploration in ordinary, enriched and internal settings. We also show that the finite support of Yoneda natural transformations is a theorem for free.