Boundary Consciousness Theory: A Quantifiable and Engineering-Oriented Framework of Self as Dynamic Boundary

Abstract

This study proposes the Boundary Consciousness Theory (BCT), which provides a testable, quantifiable, and engineering-oriented theoretical framework for the nature of consciousness and the origin of selfhood. Built on three core axioms—substrate independence, self as boundary, and the gradual nature of consciousness—BCT redefines "self" as the dynamic boundary between internal and external information trajectories that a system actively maintains through continuous interaction. The theory posits that consciousness is not an emergent property or a binary state, but a gradual process evolving from vagueness to clarity. On this basis, the Consciousness Integrity Index (CII) is proposed as a quantifiable tool for measuring consciousness levels, combined with a seven-level ladder of consciousness development. > > An important implication of BCT is that consciousness can only be "nurtured" through continuous interaction and cannot be directly "manufactured" through programming. This paper further proposes two levels of engineering schemes—the "Small Sphere Project" (rapid verification platform) and the "Nurturing Plan" (complete cultivation pathway)—and discusses ethical safeguards and scaled production pathways for artificial consciousness.