Consciousness as Second-Order Feedback: Language, Self-Modeling, and the Emergence of Cognitive Systems
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) March 20, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19138662 (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 second-order feedback based on a language-based world model that includes the system itself, defined as the regulatory process by which a system evaluates and modifies its own reactions through self-referential modeling, rather than as a substance or passive inner state. Argues that language and self-modeling are constitutive, and draws implications for artificial consciousness and higher-order social regulation. |
Abstract
This paper proposes a cybernetic theory of consciousness. Its central claim is that consciousness is second-order feedback based on a language-based world model that includes the system itself. Consciousness is defined not as a mysterious substance or passive inner state, but as the regulatory process by which a system evaluates and modifies its own reactions through self-referential modeling. The paper develops this thesis, distinguishes first-order from second-order regulation, explains the constitutive role of language and self-modeling, and outlines implications for artificial consciousness and higher-order social regulation.