A Note on Relative Consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive April 16, 2021 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA mathematical framework is introduced for measuring how one system estimates the consciousness of another, with the estimate always relative to the observer. The formulation resolves several key problems in consciousness studies by providing a relative, observer-dependent measure rather than an absolute one. The approach offers a way to compare consciousness across different systems, potentially including biological and artificial ones, by grounding the estimate in the observer's own structure and capabilities.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Q-bio.nc Consciousness-theory Quantitative-biology Cognitive-science Artificial-intelligence |
| Key finding | Proposes that consciousness estimates are inherently relative to an observer and that this formulation resolves key problems of consciousness. |
Abstract
This paper describes a mathematical formulation for measuring how one system can estimate the consciousness of another. This consciousness estimate is always relative to the observer. The paper shows how this formulation leads to simple resolutions of some key problems of consciousness.