Shared Mind Theory (SMT): Canonical Formulation
PhilPapers (PhilPapers Foundation) January 8, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18187008 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes that consciousness is fundamentally relational and field-like rather than individually localized, with individual minds arising as nodal perspectives within a shared conscious field and realized through perspectival interfaces. Argues against treating the individual subject as the ontologically primitive unit of analysis, and presents this formulation as SMT's canonical statement of its core commitments and ontological architecture. |
Abstract
Shared Mind Theory (SMT) is a unified theory of consciousness holding that consciousness is fundamentally relational and field-like rather than individually localized. Individual minds arise as nodal perspectives within a shared conscious field and are experientially realized through perspectival interfaces. SMT rejects the assumption that the individual subject is the ontologically primitive unit of analysis. This canonical formulation defines the core commitments, ontological architecture, and binding thesis of SMT, consolidating its foundational structure and internal consequences into a single canonical reference.