A Thermodynamic Framework for Phenomenal Consciousness: Entropy Gradients, Attention, and Criticality in Predictive Systems
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) January 27, 2026 Matthew Steiniger
This preprint proposes a thermodynamic framework for phenomenal consciousness, addressing the "hard problem" of why certain physical processes are accompanied by subjective experience (qualia). Consciousness is hypothesized to emerge in predictive, self-organizing systems that actively sustain steep, localized informational entropy gradients. These gradients are maintained by dynamic...