Joey Lawsin's Blog - Posts Tagged "generated-emergence"

The Simplified Theory of Consciousness

Defining and Measuring Consciousness: The Codexation Dilemma and its Seven Interpretations

Consciousness, an intricate and multifaceted phenomenon, has been the subject of investigation across scientific, philosophical, and artificial intelligence domains. However, a unified approach of defining, measuring, and explaining consciousness remains elusive. In this paper, we propose a new framework anchored on Information Codexation (IC) through the Codexation Dilemma (CD), a pivotal concept central for understanding consciousness. The dilemma asserts that “No man can think of something without associating his thought with something physical or material”.

Lawsin (1988) originally introduced this catchphrase as a means to integrate the scientific, philosophical, and technological aspects of consciousness in his Autognorics, the science of engineered life forms (ELFS). The dilemma facilitates the derivations of seven core interpretations of consciousness, each with its own definition, features, and correlates. These interpretations are:
(1) Associative or Correlative Consciousness, which is the ability to match or pair things;
(2) Equational or Relational Consciousness, which is the ability to be aware of oneself and one’s surroundings;
(3) Inlearned Consciousness, which is the ability to exhibit copied behaviors or traits;
(4) Scripted Consciousness, which is generated through a sequence of instructions;
(5) Codified Consciousness, which is the ability to transform physicals and abstracts;
(6) Generated Consciousness, which is an interim emergent of materials and instructions; and
(7) Evolutionary Consciousness, which is based on the seven Laws of Inscription.

The rest of the paper is structured as follows. First, we explain the Codexation Dilemma and its crucial role in defining and measuring consciousness. Then, we present the seven core interpretations of consciousness and their neural and aneural (non-neural) correlates. Next, we discuss the methods and limitations of our framework, and we compare it with other existing approaches. Finally, we conclude with some remarks and suggestions to generate new hypotheses and experiments for future research in making a thinking, living, conscious machine.

Consciousness is one of the most intriguing and elusive phenomena in science, philosophy, and technology. It is commonly defined as the subjective experience of being aware of oneself and one’s surroundings, and it is often associated with higher cognitive functions, such as memory, reasoning, language, and creativity. However, there is no clear and agreed-upon definition of what consciousness is, how it arises, and how it relates to neurons. Different disciplines and paradigms have proposed different theories and models of consciousness, based on various assumptions, methods, and criteria. Some of these theories focus on the neural correlates of consciousness, that is, the specific brain regions, networks, or processes that are necessary or sufficient for conscious experience. Other theories emphasize the non-neural correlates of consciousness, such as the behavioral, physiological, or environmental factors that modulate or influence conscious experience. However, these theories often face conceptual, perceptional, methodological, or empirical problems, such as the explanatory gap, the measurement problem, the binding problem, or the problem of other minds. Moreover, these theories often fail to account for the diversity and complexity of conscious phenomena, such as the different levels, modes, states, and contents of consciousness, and the different types and degrees of consciousness that may exist in different organisms, systems, or in vivo machines.

A new framework for understanding consciousness is conveyed here based primarily on Codexation Dilemma that explores the transformations of information from ideas to realities, from abstracts to physicals, or from the self's inner subjective mind to nature's outer objective world. The trans-codexation or transcodification of information is known as Information Codexation and the enigmatic transcodification from Abstracts to Physicals or vis-a-vis is known as the Codexation Dilemma (Lawsin, 1988). This paper presents the various interpretations of consciousness all anchored on codexation dilemma:

1. Associative or Correlative Consciousness (AC): Consciousness is the ability to establish one-to-one correspondences between different entities or phenomena. This includes various forms of association, such as:
1.1 Mimicry or imitation
1.2. Matching or pairing
1.3. Discovery or invention
1.4. Learning or acquisition
1.5. Parroting or emulation

AC is the most basic and universal form of consciousness, which does not require the involvement of the mind. It can be observed in the behavior of infants, animals, plants, and even microorganisms, who can acquire information through sensory inputs and respond accordingly. For example, infants can stack lego bricks without knowing the concepts of stacking, lego, height, or shape. Birds can associate nests with offspring, worms with food, and flying with predators by copying their parents. Plants, corals, and microbes can interact with their environment based on their innate or acquired associations. AC is also known as Aneural Associative Consciousness, as it does not depend on the presence of a nervous system, neurons, or the brain (Definition-1, Lawsin 1988)..

2. Equational or Relational Consciousness (RC): Consciousness is the result of a logical equation between two variables: X and Y. X represents the self, and Y represents the other being or the environment. If X is conscious with Y, then X is conscious. If X is alone by itself, then X will never become conscious.

RC is a more advanced form of consciousness, which requires the awareness of one's sensors and its interaction with the right signal. It is based on the premise that consciousness is a relational phenomenon, rather than an intrinsic property. RC challenges the common assumption that consciousness is equivalent to thinking, as expressed by the famous quote “I think, therefore I am” by Rene Descartes. This assumption ignores the fact that there are beings without brains that are conscious, and beings with brains that are not conscious. For example, children and infants are not conscious or self-conscious until a certain age. Thus, to rewrite Rene’s quote measured according to Lawsin Dictum: “If I can match X with Y, therefore, I am conscious.” (Definition-2, Lawsin 1988).

3. Inlearned Consciousness (IC): Consciousness is related to the inlearned behaviors or traits of the organism. Inlearned behaviors are those that are learned or acquired by choice or by chance through copying or discovering. Some measures of inlearned behaviors that indicate consciousness are:
3.1. Reproduction or procreation
3.2. Habitation or sheltering
3.3. Dormancy or sleeping
3.4. Recognition or identification
3.5. Defense or protection
3.6. Copulation or mating

IC is a form of consciousness that reflects the biological and evolutionary aspects of the organism. It is based on the observation that all conscious beings exhibit some or all of these inlearned behaviors, which are essential for their survival and adaptation. IC is also known as the Collaborative Determinants of Consciousness (Definition-3, Lawsin 1988).

4. Scriptive Consciousness (SC): Consciousness is an inscripted process that follows an orderly sequence of steps:
4.1. Information is transcodified into physical forms (codification);
4.2. Physical forms are transformed into actions or movements (activation);
4.3. Actions or movements are transferred into mechanical, repetitive, or animated behaviors (automation); and
4.4. Animated behaviors are translated into the persona or identity of the being (personification).

SC is a form of consciousness that describes the dynamic and complex nature of the phenomenon. It is based on the idea that consciousness is not a static or fixed state, but a continuous and adaptive process that involves multiple levels of information processing, codexation, and inscription. SC is also known as the Grand Script of Consciousness (Definition-4, Lawsin 1988).

5. Codified Consciousness (CC): Consciousness is a two-in-one process that involves physical and abstract components. It is classified into two types: neural and aneural, and categorized depending on the type of input and output involved: (i) Physical to Physical (P2P): Consciousness is the ability to detect and manipulate physical objects or phenomena. (ii) Physical to Abstract (P2A): Consciousness is the ability to abstract and conceptualize physical objects or phenomena. (iii) Abstract to Physical (A2P): Consciousness is the ability to materialize and instantiate abstract concepts or ideas. (iv) Abstract to Abstract (A2A): Consciousness is the ability to transform abstract concepts or ideas.

CC is a form of consciousness that involves a process of codification or associative codexation, which is the ability to establish correspondences, from realities to ideas, from physical to abstract. CC covers various forms and measures of codification, such as:

Dreaming or imagining: This is an example of A2A codification, where an idea is codified with another idea. Inventing or creating: This is an example of A2P or P2A codification, where an idea is codified with an object or vice versa. Playing or experimenting: This is an example of P2P codification, where an object is codified with another object. Dreams, inventions, and play are computational or quantitative measures of codified consciousness.

Consciousness is the ability of an organism to translate physical objects to abstract ideas. CC is the process where the physicals (outside the mind) are transcodified into abstracts (inside the mind) or vis-a-vis. CC is the basis of consciousness, as it enables the organism to acquire and process information from the external world. The process of pairing physicals and abstracts is known as Codification or Codexation. Codexation is the primary indicator of consciousness (Definition-5, Lawsin 1988).

6. Interim or Generated Consciousness (GC): Consciousness is the product of an inherent interim emergent system that consists of two parts: Materials and Instructions. Materials are things that have mass, such as apples, rocks, air, water, and fire. By-materials are things that are generated by materials, such as temperature, pressure, gravity, density, energy, and inscription. By-materials are invisible parameters that influence the behavior of materials. Both materials and by-materials are called Physicals. Non-material elements are called Abstracts.

GC is a form of consciousness that is based on the idea that consciousness depends on the existence of materials and information/instructions, which are the sources of codification. Consciousness arises from the interaction and evolution of intuitive materials, embedded instructions, and the single theory, which form a complex and dynamic system of individual behaviors and intelligence. Instruction is the intelligence that programs all creation and sequential instructions give rise to logic and behaviors. On the other hand, the Single Theory of Everything, also known as the Generated Interim Emergence, is a paradoxical concept that claims “Everything exists due to the fact that other things cause it to exist, otherwise, it exists and doesn't exist at all” (Definition-6, Lawsin 1988).

7. Evolutionary Consciousness (EC): Consciousness evolves when one is alive, aware, and intuitive. This new concept is based on the Law of Seven Inscriptions and the paradigm shift from neural to aneural intuitive memory network. It reflects the evolutionary stages and emergence aspects of the phenomenon.

It addresses the seven non-biological criteria of life, six to be living, four to be conscious, two to be aware, and one to be alive, such as:
a) Mechanical Aliveness: This is the stage where energy is continuously self obtained externally.
b) Sensorial Awareness: This is the stage where input signal is captured through the mechanical senses, such as sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
c) Logical Intuitiveness: This is the stage where external signals activate the inherent information embedded in the structural design of the object.
d) Aneural Consciousness: This is the stage where information is codified from realities to ideas following the “A Brain without The Brain”, a paradigm shift from Neural to Aneural Memory.

EC is a form of consciousness that explains the physical and instructional aspects of the phenomenon. It is based on the non-mental ability (a brain without a brain) to store information by an object through Intelligence by Design or Inscription by Design (ID). EC is also known as the Seven Laws of Inscription (Definition-7, Lawsin 1988).

On the other hand, many of us think that being Alive, with Life, and Living are all one and the same. But according to Lawsin, the author of the Biotronics Project and who develops Autognorics, all of them are different and must have their distinct meanings. His thesis on these subjects rewrites the meanings of being Alive, Aware, Conscious, Intuitive, Informed, living, and with life based on a theory known as the Law of Seven Inscriptions of Life. They are redefined because humans' interpretations of the meaning of life are all wrong.

Before we go deeper into this new mindset of the Law of Seven Inscriptions, including bioforms and abioforms, let us first study the origin, creation, and evolution of early information based on the theory of Originemology, specifically its three most important seminal theories- the Caveman in the Box Trilogy, the Human Mental Handicap, and the Interim Emergence. Studying these concepts will properly correct the inherently flawed ideas we learned from the Theory of Mind.

In his thought and observable experiments, the Caveman in the Box Trilogy, Lawsin examines consciousness by investigating the origin, creation, and evolution of information scientifically with the following leading questions
1. How did information emerge into the early minds of the very first humans?
2. Who supplied our primitive ancestors with information?
3. Where did it originate? Where did it come from?
4. Was the source of information a who or a what? Was it god, space aliens, or something else?
5. If a bat was also placed inside the box, would it develop consciousness?

Lawsin also claims that consciousness can be defined based on his Human Mental Handicap Argument or the Codexation Dilemma that asserts " No human can think of something without associating his thought with something physical." The other thing refers to an object, a word, a label, a name, a definition, a symbol, a gesture, or a representation. In other words, Lawsin claims that consciousness can be simplified by: "If I can label x with y, therefore, I am conscious." He also claims that consciousness doesn't need to emanate from the brain. This theory on Aneural Associative Consciousness is based on Autognorics, the science of creating living machines, objects, or systems.

Based on Lawsin Non-Biological Criteria of Life, Life is an evolutionary process that starts from being alive to being living to having Life. The Inscriptions follow a sequence of seven orders or stages:
1. mechanization of Aliveness,
2. sensation of Awareness,
3. codification of Consciousness,
4. logic of Intuitiveness,
5. inscripted inlearning
6. experience of livingness,
7. emergence of Self.

Lawsin also posits that consciousness, including life, thoughts, emotions, animations, music, colors, senses are products of generated emergence. Generated Emergence is a theory that asserts everything emerges due to intuitive objects and embedded inscriptions. These intuitive objects may be intuitive networks, intuitive machines, intuitive states, intuitive forms, intuitive materials, and intuitive systems. They are technically called Interims or latent emergent. We sense or perceive them as if they are there but they are not. They seem to exist but they don't exist at all. They are by-materials created by materials.

"If I can match X with Y, then I am conscious" ~ Joey Lawsin
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter