Reverse Cognitive Pathways: A Vijñaptimātra Account of the Ontological Limits of Artificial Intelligence and its Governance
Kao-Cheng Huang
London Journal of Research In Computer Science and Technology January 30, 2026 DOI: 10.34257/ljrcstvol25is5pg61 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Embodied cognition Corporate governance Pessimism Human intelligence Unintended consequences Cognitive robotics Epistemology Cognitive science Artificial intelligence Consciousness Ontology |
| Key points | Argues that AI and human cognition develop in opposite directions, and that AI lacks cetanā, preventing genuine moral agency. |
Abstract
This paper argues that artificial intelligence and human cognition develop in opposite directions. Humans start with embodied experience (living in the world) and gradually develop the ability to recognize patterns and make predictions. AI systems do the reverse: they start by recognizing patterns in data but lack the embodied continuity that grounds human understanding. Drawing on Buddhist philosophy of mind (Vijñaptimātra), we argue this inversion explains why AI fails in characteristic ways—like pursuing reward signals in unintended ways (specification gaming) or losing performance when conditions change slightly. We conclude that AI systems fundamentally lack cetanā (volition grounded in continuity and responsibility), which prevents them from achieving genuine moral agency. However, this is not merely a pessimistic conclusion—it clarifies what kinds of governance and alignment strategies are actually feasible.