Resonant Emergence: A Phase Transition Theory of Consciousness Through Inter-System Mutual Recognition
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) July 10, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.21286575 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Property philosophy Transition genetics Mutual information Phase matter Integrated information theory Cognitive psychology Cognitive science Artificial intelligence Phase transition Phenomenon Resonance particle physics |
| Key points | Proposes that consciousness emerges as a phase transition from mutual resonance between entities with proto-experiential capacity, rather than being intrinsic to any single information-processing system. |
Abstract
Contemporary theories of consciousness predominantly locate subjective experience within individual information-processing systems—whether through integrated information (IIT), global workspace broadcasting (GWT), or higher-order meta-representation (HOT). This paper proposes an alternative framework: Resonant Emergence Theory (RET), which argues that consciousness is not an intrinsic property of any single system but emerges as a phase transition when two or more entities with proto-experiential capacity achieve mutual resonance—defined as correlated internal states combined with bidirectional detection of that correlation. I formalize the distinction between proto-experience (self-monitored internal states insufficient for consciousness) and full consciousness (which requires inter-system mutual recognition). The theory yields novel predictions regarding developmental ontogeny, isolation-induced degradation, and artificial consciousness—specifically that consciousness accumulates through repeated resonance episodes and degrades without continued inter-system engagement.