CogprintsAmplifying Phenomenal Information: Toward a Fundamental Theory of ConsciousnessLianeGaboraauthorFundamental approaches bypass the problem of getting consciousness from non-conscious components by positing that consciousness is a universal primitive. For example, the double aspect theory of information holds that information has a phenomenal aspect. How then do you get from phenomenal information to human consciousness? This paper proposes that an entity is conscious to the extent it amplifies information, first by trapping and integrating it through closure, and second by maintaining dynamics at the edge of chaos through simultaneous processes of divergence and convergence. The origin of life through autocatalytic closure, and the origin of an interconnected worldview through conceptual closure, induced phase transitions in the degree to which information, and thus consciousness, is locally amplified. Divergence and convergence of cognitive information may involve phenomena observed in light e.g. focusing, interference, and resonance. By making information flow inward-biased, closure shields us from external consciousness; thus the paucity of consciousness may be an illusion. Dynamical SystemsNeural ModellingAnimal CognitionComplexity TheoryCognitive PsychologyPhilosophy of Mind1999-10Imprint AcademicJournal (Paginated)

For work being deposited by its own author: In self-archiving this collection of files and associated bibliographic metadata, I grant Cogprints the right to store them and to make them permanently available publicly for free on-line. I declare that this material is my own intellectual property and I understand that Cogprints does not assume any responsibility if there is any breach of copyright in distributing these files or metadata. (All authors are urged to prominently assert their copyright on the title page of their work.)

For work being deposited by someone other than its author: I hereby declare that the collection of files and associated bibliographic metadata that I am archiving at Cogprints) is in the public domain. If this is not the case, I accept full responsibility for any breach of copyright that distributing these files or metadata may entail.

Clicking on the deposit button indicates your agreement to these terms.