Could Consciousness be a Fundamental Property of Matter? A Preliminary Hypothesis on Matter, Life and Consciousness
Jay Altizer
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology October 16, 2026 DOI: 10.38124/ijisrt/26oct594 (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 may be a fundamental property of physical reality rather than solely a product of biological brains, and argues the question deserves further philosophical analysis and scientific investigation. The author explicitly does not claim to prove that matter possesses consciousness or that current science has overlooked a discovery. |
Abstract
This paper explores the possibility that consciousness may be a fundamental property of matter rather than a phenomenon that emerges exclusively from complex biological brains. The physical universe contains matter that forms molecules, living organisms, and human brains. Brain activity is closely associated with conscious experience, but questions remain about how physical processes give rise to subjective experience. This paper asks whether consciousness could be more fundamental to physical reality than currently established explanations suggest. It does not claim to prove that matter possesses consciousness or that current science has overlooked a discovery. Instead, it proposes a question for further philosophical analysis and scientific investigation.