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Genesis of Distinction

Michele Parisi

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) January 12, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18224988 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed
Keywords Formal system Consciousness Analogy Foundations of mathematics Observer physics Perspective graphical Presupposition Philosophical analysis Mathematical structure Mathematical practice Epistemology Language of mathematics Theme computing Soundness Core optical fiber Multidisciplinary approach Sentence Cognitive science
Key points Argues that distinction is the primary operation from which both reality and formal systems emerge, proposing a participatory epistemology in which mathematics is the formal language of distinction.

Abstract

Title Genesis of Distinction: From the Primordial Act to the Construction of Analysis Abstract This paper explores the foundational role of "distinction" as the primary cognitive and ontological operation through which reality and formal systems emerge. Drawing upon a multidisciplinary framework, the author bridges the gap between quantum information theory, systems theory, and constructivist mathematics. The core of the analysis is structured around three main pillars: The Information-Physics Nexus: An in-depth examination of John Wheeler’s "It from Bit" paradigm, proposing that material reality (It) is a derivative of binary informational processes (Bit) within a participatory universe. Mathematical Constructivism: A derivation of number systems—from the Von Neumann construction of ordinals to Dedekind cuts—viewed not as discoveries of an external reality, but as recursive operations originating from a "primordial" empty set, analogous to non-dual consciousness. Phenomenological Recursion: Using Niklas Luhmann’s "paradox of difference" and the consequentia mirabilis, the paper investigates how consciousness self-founds by splitting into observer and observed. By establishing a structural analogy between the stages of mathematical construction and the layers of self-awareness, the work suggests that the universe is an ongoing, recursive dialogue of question-and-answer interactions. This perspective challenges traditional realism, proposing instead a "participatory epistemology" where mathematics serves as the formal language of distinction itself. Keywords Epistemology; It from Bit; Quantum Information; Constructivism; Niklas Luhmann; Primordial Consciousness; Mathematical Foundations; Systems Theory.