When the World Becomes Too Large: Consciousness as a Finite-Capacity Boundary Phase
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) May 24, 2026 Yining Wu
A finite-capacity boundary-phase model proposes that consciousness arises not from complexity or scale but when a self-maintaining system faces more distinction demand than it can represent without losing its own boundary. The model introduces three scaling variables—boundary-capacity ratio, residue-pruning ratio, and self-boundary coupling—to identify when sentience becomes scientifically plausible. Consciousness is distinguished from compression, reportability, intelligence, and prediction. Qualia are interpreted as boundary-valenced compression geometry, and the explanatory gap is attributed to the limits of finite report maps. Applications span infant consciousness, neural systems, artificial consciousness, and thought experiments, with a layered falsification registry.