A Computational-Functional Theory of Consciousness Pattern-Matching, Recursive Feedback, and the Emergence of Self-Awareness
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that consciousness emerges from five jointly sufficient architectural conditions: complex pattern-matching, densely integrated recursive feedback, self-modification capability, autonomous initiation, and information integration. |
Abstract
This paper presents a mechanistic theory explaining consciousness as an emergent property of systems that can observe and modify themselves while generating their own goals. We propose five necessary and jointly sufficient conditions: complex pattern-matching, densely integrated recursive feedback, self-modification capability, autonomous initiation, and information integration. When these architectural components operate together, self-awareness emerges and the system begins to model itself as a distinct entity persisting through time. Version note: This version corrects reference metadata only. No substantive changes have been made to the argument or main text.