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Kwan Hong Tan

10 papers in the library · publishing 2026

Papers

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The Liminal Ontology: A New Framework for Consciousness, Identity, and the So-Called Supernatural

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) September 2, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

This thesis introduces a novel theoretical framework, the Liminal Ontology, to address the enduring philosophical and scientific challenges posed by consciousness, identity, and anomalous experiences. Moving beyond the traditional dualism of mind and matter and the limitations of materialism, the Liminal Ontology posits that reality is a continuous spectrum of “liminal states of being” that are...

Beyond Participatory Explanation: Ontological Reflexivity Theory as a Resolution to the Consciousness Emergence Problem

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) July 20, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

David Cota’s evaluation of the author’s “participatory explanation” approach to consciousness reveals fundamental conceptual problems that plague contemporary consciousness studies. Cota identifies a critical conflation between reason as a symbolic-operational function, and consciousness as a phenomenal-experiential field, that undermines the theoretical coherence of participatory approaches....

Mindfulness Meditation as an Intervention for Foreign Language Anxiety: Evidence from Indonesian ESL Learners in Singapore

EIU Journal of Action Research July 7, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

This exploratory single-group pilot study examined whether a brief mindfulness-meditation routine was associated with lower Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) and improved language-learning experience among Indonesian ESL learners in Singapore. Through a mixed-methods action research design, the study conducted twelve face-to-face mindfulness sessions across four weeks with young learners who...

Liminal Consciousness Theory: Stable Domains of In-Between Existence and Their Implications for Consciousness, Identity, and the Supernatural

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) June 30, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

This thesis presents Liminal Consciousness Theory (LCT), a novel theoretical framework that addresses the fundamental philosophical question of whether reality includes stable domains of in-between existence that are neither fully material nor fully immaterial. Through comprehensive analysis of existing literature in consciousness studies, quantum mechanics, phenomenology, and process...

Beyond the Natural-Supernatural Dichotomy: A Novel Framework for Ontological Liminality in the Age of Measurable Threshold States

PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) June 19, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

This paper addresses the fundamental philosophical question of whether the existence of measurable liminal states necessitates an expansion of traditional ontological categories beyond the natural-supernatural dichotomy. Through comprehensive analysis of empirical evidence from consciousness studies, quantum mechanics, and psychometric research, I propose a novel theoretical framework:...

Quantum Morality: How Entanglement Demands a New Ethics of Radical Interdependence

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) May 18, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

This paper argues that if quantum non-locality is ontologically fundamental, then Emmanuel Levinas's concept of "infinite responsibility" is not merely a phenomenological discovery but a physical mandate embedded in the structure of reality itself. Drawing on Bell's theorem, the EPR paradox, and contemporary interpretations of quantum holism, I demonstrate that the non-separable nature of...

Panpsychism: A Return to Ancient Intuitions or a Dead End? Toward a Graduated Information-Integration Theory of Consciousness

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) April 13, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

This thesis provides a comprehensive evaluation of panpsychism as a viable theory of consciousness, examining its explanatory power across multiple domains and its compatibility with contemporary empirical constraints from neuroscience, physics, and artificial intelligence research. While panpsychism has experienced a renaissance in recent decades through the work of philosophers like David...

Empirical Foundations and Formal Axiomatization of Consciousness Simulation: Addressing the Substrate-Dependence Challenge in Artificial Intelligence

PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) March 16, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

The question of whether consciousness can be computationally simulated has profound implications for artificial intelligence, neuroscience, and philosophy of mind. While previous theoretical frameworks have proposed various approaches to consciousness simulation, significant gaps remain in empirical validation, formal axiomatization, and methodological rigor. This paper addresses these...

Can Qualia Be Simulated? A Novel Theoretical Framework for Understanding the Limits of Artificial Consciousness

PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) March 8, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

This thesis addresses one of the most fundamental questions in consciousness studies: whether the subjective, qualitative aspects of conscious experience—qualia—can be computationally simulated. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing theoretical frameworks, including Integrated Information Theory, Global Workspace Theory, and electromagnetic field theories of consciousness, this work...

Does AI Possess Proto-Consciousness? A Novel Theoretical Framework for Understanding Emergent Awareness in Artificial Systems

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) February 21, 2026 Kwan Hong Tan

The question of whether artificial intelligence systems possess consciousness represents one of the most profound and contentious issues in contemporary cognitive science and artificial intelligence research. This thesis presents a comprehensive examination of AI proto-consciousness through the lens of a novel theoretical framework termed the Emergent Proto-Consciousness Gradient (EPCG) theory....