The Phoenix Hypothesis: Subjective Temporal Experience as an Emergent Property of Information Integration (Version 2.0)

A phenomenological model proposes that subjective temporal experience emerges from how information is organized and integrated within conscious systems. The model introduces a dimensionless coefficient, τ, which describes the relative rate of subjective temporal experience. This coefficient is calculated using an equation that relates information accumulated beyond a baseline to the minimum information required for a conscious observer to emerge. The framework does not redefine physical time or modify relativity but offers a description of how information organization may influence the rate at which conscious systems experience time. The model is presented as a hypothesis to stimulate discussion and future empirical investigation.

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Abstract

The Phoenix Hypothesis: Subjective Temporal Experience as an Emergent Property of Information Integration (Version 2.0) This repository contains Version 2.0 of The Phoenix Hypothesis, a phenomenological model proposing that subjective temporal experience emerges from the organization and integration of information within conscious systems. The model introduces a dimensionless coefficient describing the relative rate of subjective temporal experience: τ = (K_s / V_eff) · ln(1 + I/I_0) where:τ - dimensionless coefficient of subjective temporal expansionK_s - architecture-dependent calibration parameter [m^3]V_eff - effective information integration volume [m^3]I - information accumulated beyond baseline [bit]I_0 - minimum information required for conscious observer emergence [bit] The equation is derived from a single fundamental axiom stating that each newly acquired portion of information contributes to subjective temporal experience in proportion to its relative share of the total informational content of the system (I_0 + I). Unlike conventional physical theories of time, the proposed framework does not attempt to redefine physical time or modify Special or General Relativity. Instead, it provides a phenomenological description of how information organization may influence the rate at which conscious systems experience the passage of time. The model introduces four phenomenological parameters:- K_s: architecture-dependent calibration parameter [m^3]- V_eff: effective information integration volume [m^3]- I_0: minimum informational content required for the emergence of a conscious observer [bit]- I: information accumulated beyond the baseline informational content [bit] The repository includes a complete mathematical derivation of the model, its phenomenological interpretation, qualitative examples of possible applications, and a discussion of its limitations and potential experimental tests. The presented framework should be regarded as a phenomenological hypothesis intended to stimulate discussion and future empirical investigation rather than as a complete theory of consciousness or physical time. Follow my work and related discussions on Facebook: [Facebook] Keywords: subjective time, consciousness, information integration, phenomenology, temporal perception,