Vis Viva & Vis Mortua

The results of cognitive biology and bioenergetics, as elaborated by Ladislav Kováč, its outstanding Slovak representative, clearly suggest that the material basis for consciousness (defined as an organized set of the perceptional and emotional qualia) can be found in energy dissipation processes which proceed at the chemical level of brain activities. Since there are strong arguments against Kováč's explanation of the relation between chemical processes and the qualia in terms of emergence (in strong sense), it is necessary to go to the Leibnizian origins of the modern conception of physical energy (both actual-kinetic and potential), and to its metaphysical presuppositions and interpretations, in order to try to find there a better metaphysical starting point to the solution of the mind-body dualism. Also Kant's early treatment of energy and forces is analyzed, as well as his later critical attack against the Leibnizian metaphysics.