Microvita and Moral Resonance: A Quaternionic Model of Consciousness

Abstract

This essay develops a quaternionic model of consciousness linking inner rotation, relational orientation, and ethical curvature. The imaginary unit i denotes the minimal operation of self-reference—a rotation that transforms linear progression into reflexive structure. Extending this operation into the quaternionic space (i, j, k) allows the modeling of semantic, emotional, and intentional dimensions as coupled rotations within a multidimensional field. Self-modeling appears as a second-order rotation (hyperrotation), generating a dynamic form of proto-self-awareness. Yet the emergence of phenomenal consciousness remains uncertain. The model distinguishes between formal self-organization and experiential depth, suggesting that the decisive criterion is not subjective feeling but the correct interpretation of the structures that underlie it. In the ethical domain, the curvature Cₖ defines a normative geometry of meaning. The concept of moral resonance measures the alignment between local teleological tendencies and global ethical curvature. Positive resonance fosters semantic and moral integration, whereas counter-resonance increases deflective centers in the moral field. Consciousness thus appears as a field phenomenon—a geometry of resonance in which structure, meaning, and value converge.

Author's Profile

Hans-Joachim Rudolph
LMU Munich (PhD)

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2025-10-12

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