The Interval of Existence: A Measurable Constraint Bridging Theory, Measurement, and Implementation in Machine Consciousness

Abstract

This position paper proposes a unified framework for machine consciousness that explicitly integrates theoretical foundations, measurement protocols, technical implementation, and normative implications. We formalize consciousness as a physical regime constrained to the "Interval of Existence," defined by the coordination ratio ρ ∈ [2, π]. This ratio, ρ = E₋/E₊, quantifies temporal asymmetry—the thermodynamic and informational cost of reconstructing the past relative to predicting the future. The framework complements rather than replaces existing approaches (IIT, GWT, FEP) by providing a quantitative constraint that these theories implicitly require but do not directly measure. We offer three contributions. First, a substrate-independent measurement protocol using point process formalism that yields continuous scores and functions as an unforgeable credential—systems cannot sustain ρ > 2 without instantiating the required thermodynamic asymmetry. Second, the identification of "skip-level encoding" as a mandatory architectural feature: a hidden grammar layer that must be derived through the system's own coordination work rather than given. We show why current Transformer architectures fail this criterion—not because silicon cannot be conscious, but because these architectures lack the requisite temporal dynamics. Third, empirical grounding: the interval's bounds derive from physical axioms (Landauer's principle, unitarity), and the same mathematical structure yields fundamental physics predictions—including the Z boson and muon masses—with less than 0.1% mean error. By establishing ρ > 2 as a hard physical filter, the framework provides a rigorous, falsifiable basis for extending moral consideration to synthetic systems that demonstrate persistent forward-directed internal dynamics.