A First-Principles Derivation from Three Axioms to the Hard Problem of Consciousness English Version

Abstract

Chalmers' distinction between the easy and hard problems of consciousness has oriented mainstream theories (IIT, GNW, FEP) toward the easy-problem level, failing to provide a mechanistic response to the hard problem from first principles. Taking only three axioms---resource finiteness, non-equilibrium maintenance tendency, and discrete input---as the sole starting point, this paper enters from temporal dynamics and, through an eliminative-convergent argument, constructs a unified framework for the hierarchical emergence of consciousness. It introduces the Information Capacity Frame (ICF) as an overarching constraint concept, derives the perpetual incompletability of the survival-selection constraint, and demonstrates the two-step emergence of temporal binding, forgetting, and the self-referential closed loop. It proves that the stable operation of the self-referential closed loop is governed by a bidirectional critical constraint between temporal span and reconstruction activity. A formal statement of the Information-Level Unidirectional Constraint (ILUC) principle is given, revealing the intrinsic logical-time dimension of dimension-ascending operations, on the basis of which a five-level consciousness spectrum is delineated. Qualia are defined as a parallel compressed representation format in which calibration errors are anchored to the self-referential closed loop, and a constructive response to the hard problem of consciousness is offered at three levels: the philosophical zombie argument, the explanatory gap, and the question of why direct acquaintance constitutes experience. All conclusions are derived by convergent elimination under constraints from the axioms alone, independent of specific neural architectures, and possess substrate-independent universality.