Temporal Integration, Bidirectional Criticality and Emergence of Consciousness Hierarchy Condensed English Version V109

This theoretical paper argues that consciousness arises as an optimal engineering solution to maintaining persistent existence under resource constraints. Starting from three axioms—limited resources, survival-screening, and discrete input—the authors derive a two-step emergence geometry: folding into a loop and anchoring into a surface. They define qualia as endogenous calibration signals of a self-referential closed loop, reframing the hard problem as a parameter interval problem. They propose a law of unidirectional constraint on information hierarchies, arguing that first-person and third-person gaps stem from temporal unidirectionality. A five-level consciousness spectrum and four hard constraints for AGI consciousness are derived, with non-utilitarian overflow as an ontological feature.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Most existing theories of consciousness focus on neural correlates but fail to answer the essential question of why consciousness exists. Starting from three axioms—limited resources, survival-screening constraint, and discrete input—this paper demonstrates that the self-referential closed loop is the optimal engineering solution for maintaining cross-event persistent existence under resource constraints. Centered on three core variables: temporal span T, reconstruction activity A, and closed-loop integrity C, the model derives a two-step emergence geometry of folding into a loop and anchoring into a surface. Folding into a loop resolves the dilemma of resource divergence, while anchoring into a surface completes causal subject attribution. Qualia are defined as endogenous calibration signals of the self-referential closed loop, the optimal encoding format under evolutionary time pressure, thereby reframing the hard problem of consciousness into a definable parameter interval problem. This paper proposes the law of unidirectional constraint on information hierarchies, pointing out that higher-order representations cannot be losslessly reduced to lower-order ones. The gap between the first-person and third-person perspectives arises from temporal unidirectionality rather than an ontological divide. Based on bidirectional critical phase transitions, a five-level consciousness spectrum is established and four hard constraints for AGI consciousness are derived. The recursive self-referentiality of the survival-screening constraint forms the core of consciousness: A is inexhaustible, and non-utilitarian overflow is its ontological feature. This condensed English version corresponds to the Chinese condensed Version 109 titled Temporal Integration, Bidirectional Criticality and Hierarchical Emergence of Consciousness, which was first released on June 18, 2026.