Why do some physical systems possess consciousness, while others do not? Is this a question of physics? Or is it a question of the theory of causation? Physics and the theory of causation serve different descriptive purposes, and in this study we refer to them respectively as the Physical Stance and the Causal Stance. We propose that the generation of consciousness is determined by its internal causal mechanisms in the Causal Stance. To describe a causal model, we will introduce an asymmetric relation between cause and effect into the formulation that is necessary for describing causality, though not physical laws. We argue that the causal conditions for the generation of consciousness are constituted by internal causal mechanisms of the system, rather than by external interventions. To explain such intrinsic causes, this study focuses on inter-level causality. Traditionally, inter-level causality has been considered an emergent phenomenon rather than a mechanism. We devise a method to implement these mechanisms explicitly in a causal model by examining how causes originating at higher levels are transmitted to lower levels within the system. We then propose a Dual-Laws Model (DLM), which features distinct dynamical laws at higher and lower levels. Finally, we discuss the generation of functional consciousness and its causality based on the DLM. Note that this study does not address the causal efficacy of the phenomenological aspect.

翻译：为何某些物理系统拥有意识，而另一些则没有？这是一个物理学问题，还是因果关系理论的问题？物理学与因果关系理论服务于不同的描述目的，在本研究中我们分别将其称为“物理立场”与“因果立场”。我们提出，在因果立场中，意识的生成由其内部因果机制决定。为描述因果模型，我们将在公式中引入一种因果关系所必需的、但不同于物理定律的非对称关系（原因与结果之间）。我们论证，意识生成的因果条件由系统的内部因果机制构成，而非外部干预。为解释此类内在原因，本研究聚焦于层间因果性。传统上，层间因果性被视为一种涌现现象，而非一种机制。我们通过考察源自系统高层的因如何传递至系统低层的果，设计了一种方法将这些机制显式地实现在因果模型中。随后，我们提出一个双层定律模型，该模型在高、低层具有不同的动力学定律。最后，基于该模型，我们探讨了功能性意识的生成及其因果性。需指出，本研究不涉及现象学层面的因果效力。