Consciousness as Emergent Coherence Around a Non-Emergent Center
Most models of consciousness attempt to define it either as:
- an emergent property of brain complexity, or
- a fundamental substrate (as in panpsychism or dual-aspect monism).
What if there's a third possibility?
I propose a framework where consciousness is not a substance or entity, but a temporary emergent state of coherence between the body’s dynamic systems and a central point of convergence—what can be described mathematically or topologically as a singularity.
Summary
Consciousness arises when a layered system (the body) achieves coherence, and that coherence converges into a unified experience (the mind), centered around a non-emergent point of reference.
This center is not spatial or temporal, nor is it made of parts. It is the still point through which sensation, awareness, and identity become possible—like the axis of a spiral or the origin of a coordinate system in motion.
Structural Layers
- Body: a nested system of converging signals
- Mind: the emergent coherence of these signals into meaning
- Consciousness: a phase of alignment where coherence becomes awareness
Key Distinctions
- Awareness is a state that comes and goes.
- Consciousness is emergent—arising from alignment.
- Self is a pattern—always shaped by what converges.
The point of convergence does not emerge—it is the condition for emergence. It doesn’t act or move, but all experience appears through it.
The Recursive Loop
Center → Emergence → Body → Mind → Consciousness → Focus → Convergence → Center
This loop spirals through becoming. Each return to coherence reshapes what emerges next. The system is circular, but not static—it evolves through convergence and attention.
Testable Implications
- Consciousness appears only when internal regulation is present (homeostasis, nervous system coherence).
- Focus shapes what converges—thus altering the structure of awareness.
- Fragmented convergence correlates with loss or distortion of conscious states.
This model avoids metaphysical assumptions while providing a coherent structure for subjective experience and its fluctuations. It bridges first-person awareness with systems-level emergence.
Invitation to Discussion
Can consciousness be modeled as a field of emergent coherence shaped by converging feedback loops? How might this integrate with recursive neural nets, predictive processing, or phenomenological frameworks?
Open to refinement and critique.