Memory is studied at a bewildering number of levels, with a vast array of methods, and in a daunting range of disciplines and subdisciplines. Is there any sense in which these various memory theorists – from neurobiologists to narrative psychologists, from the computational to the cross-cultural – are studying the same phenomena? In this exploratory position paper, I sketch the bare outline of a positive framework for understanding current work on constructive remembering, both within the various cognitive sciences, and (...) across gulfs between the cognitive and the social sciences. I pinpoint some lines of psychological theory and research which offer promising and compatible ways of thinking about individual memory and shared or social memory simultaneously. These are obviously ambitious projects, and this paper seeks more to elicit help with forging these connections than to present firm results. The aim is to draw out some consequences of empirical work on social memory and in developmental psychology. (shrink)

In this thesis, I develop a normative and operational framework for embedding epistemic openness within fiduciary corporate governance, arguing that directors have distinct epistemic duties requiring systematic integration of diverse stakeholder knowledge. Drawing on fiduciary ethics, epistemic justice theory, stakeholder theory, and Sen’s capability approach, I demonstrate that meaningful stakeholder participation is central to organisational legitimacy, innovation, and sustainability. I explicitly counter Abraham Singer’s claim that Rawlsian principles of justice cannot be applied to corporate governance, arguing instead that governance (...) is inherently political and therefore requires contextually adapted Rawlsian fairness. Building on Anderson’s systemic account of epistemic justice, I propose institutional reforms to foster epistemic fairness. Complementing this, I synthesise global philosophical traditions—including Confucian relational ethics, Daoist non-coercive governance, Buddhist mindfulness, Islamic shura (consultation), Hebrew stewardship, Hindu dharma and jnana, Christian servant leadership, Māori relational accountability and stewardship, and Ubuntu’s collective epistemic responsibility—offering culturally nuanced, ethically robust guidance for practice. A comparative analysis of fiduciary regimes in the UK, US (Delaware), EU/OECD, and Australia reveals systemic epistemic deficiencies. I propose targeted reforms, including structured stakeholder consultations, transparent documentation standards, clear accountability mechanisms, and director training. The thesis thus expands traditional fiduciary conceptions, offering clear pathways toward ethically accountable, inclusive, and epistemically robust corporate governance. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.28155.17449. (shrink)

The concept of an artificial womb, or ectogenesis, represents a transformative leap in reproductive technology, enabling gestation outside the human body while addressing ethical, biological, and societal challenges. Drawing from the interdisciplinary research of Minister Alexander Ohnemus, this essay outlines a conceptual blueprint for such a device, synthesizing elements from 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, genetic augmentation, and human-machine integration. Ohnemus’s work, spanning speculative biology, AI-driven idealization, and phenotypic mitigation, provides a foundation for this blueprint. For instance, his proposals for (...) creating hybrid life forms via 3D bioprinting bypass traditional uterine gestation, allowing for controlled development from genetic replicators to mature phenotypes (Ohnemus, “Life Creation”). This blueprint envisions a modular system that incorporates bioengineered scaffolds, nutrient delivery mechanisms, genetic programming, and AI oversight, while emphasizing humanistic ethics to prevent disruptive phenotypic revolutions. By deriving directly from Ohnemus’s publications and credentials, this framework highlights the potential for safer, more equitable reproduction. (shrink)

Context: The problems that are most in need of interdisciplinary collaboration are “wicked problems,” such as food crises, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development, with many relevant aspects, disagreement on what the problem is, and contradicting solutions. Such complex problems both require and challenge interdisciplinarity. Problem: The conventional methods of interdisciplinary research fall short in the case of wicked problems because they remain first-order science. Our aim is to present workable methods and research designs for doing second-order science (...) in domains where there are many different scientific knowledges on any complex problem. Method: We synthesize and elaborate a framework for second-order science in interdisciplinary research based on a number of earlier publications, experiences from large interdisciplinary research projects, and a perspectivist theory of science. Results: The second-order polyocular framework for interdisciplinary research is characterized by five principles. Second-order science of interdisciplinary research must: 1. draw on the observations of first-order perspectives, 2. address a shared dynamical object, 3. establish a shared problem, 4. rely on first-order perspectives to see themselves as perspectives, and 5. be based on other rules than first-order research. Implications: The perspectivist insights of second-order science provide a new way of understanding interdisciplinary research that leads to new polyocular methods and research designs. It also points to more reflexive ways of dealing with scientific expertise in democratic processes. The main challenge is that this is a paradigmatic shift, which demands that the involved disciplines, at least to some degree, subscribe to a perspectivist view. Constructivist content: Our perspectivist approach to science is based on the second-order cybernetics and systems theories of von Foerster, Maruyama, Maturana & Varela, and Luhmann, coupled with embodied theories of cognition and semiotics as a general theory of meaning from von Uexküll and Peirce. (shrink)

This study aims to examine how interdisciplinary urban interventions within architectural education can effectively address social justice issues. Motivated by the growing need for inclusive and equitable urban spaces, this research explores the potential of collaborative design and participatory research methods to foster social awareness and community engagement. Focusing on student-led projects in cities such as Houston, San Diego, and Amsterdam, this study addresses social justice challenges across themes like Art Activism, Tactical Urbanism, environmental justice, and gender equity. Using (...) case study analysis, digital mapping, and poster creation as core methodologies, the research demonstrates the value of multi-scalar, interdisciplinary approaches in tackling complex urban problems. The key findings highlight that integrating these approaches into architectural education promotes critical engagement with social justice issues, equipping students with practical skills for future professional challenges. The implications suggest that expanding this framework to diverse urban contexts could enhance its impact, offering a foundation for further studies on interdisciplinary design as a tool for urban equity. (shrink)

Simple Summary Are we morally justified in using animals in biomedical research and if so, how can we make sure that the experiments are conducted in a scientifically and morally acceptable manner? Based on our own experiences as scholars from various academic backgrounds, we argue that this question can only be answered as an interdisciplinary and international endeavor. Thus, our article aims to contribute to the foundation of the emerging field of animal research ethics, combining perspectives from research ethics, (...) animal ethics, science, and law. In doing so, we describe the following seven phases that animal experiments typically run through: ethical, legal and social presumptions (phase 0), planning (phase I), review (phase II), conduct of experiments (phase III), publication/dissemination (phase IV), further exploitation of results (phase V), and evaluation (phase VI). Here, 20 key ethical, legal, and practical challenges are identified and analyzed that need to be addressed. Apart from challenges arising at the level of the experiments themselves, there are also so-called meta-challenges associated with animal research ethics as a field. Four of these are presented and further discussed, also in relation to their opportunities for the further development of animal research ethics that takes into account interdisciplinary and international perspectives. Abstract Can nonhuman animals be used for the benefit of humans in a scientifically and morally justified manner and, if yes, how? Based on our own experiences as scholars from various academic backgrounds, we argue that this question can only be answered as an interdisciplinary and international endeavor, considering insights from research ethics and animal ethics as well as scientific and legal aspects. The aim of this article is to contribute to the foundation of the emerging field of animal research ethics. In doing so, we describe the following seven phases of animal research experiments: ethical, legal and social presumptions (phase 0), planning (phase I), review (phase II), conduct of experiments (phase III), publication/dissemination (phase IV), further exploitation of results (phase V), and evaluation (phase VI). In total, 20 key ethical, legal, and practical challenges that an ethical framework for the use of animals in research needs to address are identified and analyzed. Finally, we characterize the following four meta-challenges and opportunities associated with animal research ethics as a field: (1) moral pluralism, (2) the integration of views and positions outside the laboratory, (3) international plurality of conduct, standards, and legal norms, and (4) interdisciplinary education. (shrink)

This paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach integrating sociology, human behavioral science, evolutionary biology, and complexity science to construct a quantitative measurement framework for civilizational stability, centered on the logical chain of "desire hierarchy-behavioral alienation-civilizational entropy increase-ethical redemption". By integrating historical case studies (e.g., World War II, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire) and contemporary empirical analyses (e.g., Japan’s nuclear wastewater discharge, Amazon deforestation, the Israel-Palestine Conflict), it identifies human short-sighted preferences, insufficient resource inclusiveness, social structural imbalance, (...) and resource monopoly as the core drivers of civilizational internal friction. Drawing on interdisciplinary theories including Nowak’s cooperation evolution theory and Prigogine’s dissipative structure theory, the study verifies through multi-agent simulation that the superposition of these factors significantly elevates civilizational survival risks (p < 0.01). It further proposes an ethical correction framework of "survival-first meta-rule, rigid desire boundary constraint, and global collaborative inclusiveness" as a feasible solution to align human behavior with long-term civilizational sustainability. This research innovates by establishing a closed scientific loop of "concept-dimension-index-calculation-verification", realizing the quantification and reproducibility of civilizational internal friction research, and addressing the limitations of existing qualitative and fragmented studies.(For the English version, please click the DOI link below.) 本文立足社会学、人类行为学、演化生物学与复杂性科学的跨学科视角，以 “欲望层级 - 行为异化 - 文明熵增 - 伦理救赎” 为核心逻辑链，构建 “异化倾向 - 资源错配 - 资源普惠缺失 - 文明稳定性” 量化测度框架，阐释伦理修正对抑制文明内耗的关键作用。基于前期构建的 “三维宇宙规律 - 伦理修正框架 - 死亡机制赋能” 核心理论体系，通过历史案例阐释（第二次世界大战、罗马帝国兴衰）与当代现象分析（日本核污水排放、亚马逊雨林大规模砍伐、巴以冲突），揭示人性短视偏好、资源普惠缺失、社会结构失衡与资源垄断的叠加效应是文明内 耗的核心根源。研究严格遵循 “科学理论锚定 - 实证数据支撑 - 量化逻辑推导” 原则，引入诺瓦克合作演化理论、普里戈金耗散结构理论、薛定谔 “生命以负熵为生” 核心论断及社会学世界体系理论、环境正义理论等跨学科基础，将核心概念操作化，基于联合国下属机构、世界银行等权威渠道截至 2024 年底正式发布的公开合规数据，通过多智能体模拟验证核心命题：人性短视偏好等因素的共同作用会显著增加文明存续风险（统计显著性 p<0.01）。研究论证，通过 “存续至上元规则 - 欲望边界刚性约束 - 全球协同普惠机制” 的伦理框架，是实现人类行为锚定文明长期存续目标的关键可行路径。本文的创新价值在于构建 “概念 - 维度 - 指标 - 计算 - 验证” 的完整科学闭环，实现核心概念可量化、模型推导可追溯、数据获取可操作、案例分析可复现，弥补了现有研究定性化、碎片化的不足，为文明内耗治理提供兼具理论深度与实践可行性的行动指引。. (shrink)

Communicating interdisciplinary information is difficult, even when two fields are ostensibly discussing the same topic. In this work, I’ll discuss the capacity for analogical reasoning to provide a framework for developing novel judgments utilizing similarities in separate domains. I argue that analogies are best modeled after Paul Bartha’s By Parallel Reasoning, and that they can be used to create a Toulmin-style warrant that expresses a generalization. I argue that these comparisons provide insights into interdisciplinary research. In order (...) to demonstrate this concept, I will demonstrate that fruitful comparisons can be made between Buddhism and Artificial Intelligence research. (shrink)

In this article, I explore the philosophical foundations of critical realism and its application in mixed methods research. Critical realism, a robust ontological framework, is pivotal for understanding complex phenomena that span across disciplinary boundaries. It introduces a stratified ontology that recognizes distinct layers of reality, each with unique mechanisms and causal powers. By advocating for a dialectical method, critical realism has the potential to provide a contribution to mixed method research, enhances interdisciplinary collaboration and encourages examining the (...) interactions between different reality layers. This approach not only facilitates a holistic understanding of complex issues but also underscores the role of “tendencies rather than deterministic laws. This critical realist perspective significantly contributes to mixed methods research by promoting a democratic, pluralistic approach and enriching our grasp of the multifaceted nature of reality. (shrink)

Abstract -/- This paper introduces and formally maps a universal framework—comprising three fundamental natural laws—across diverse scientific fields. These laws, derived from observable systems in nature and society, provide a unified lens for understanding causality, feedback, and equilibrium. The purpose of this interdisciplinary mapping is to demonstrate the universal applicability of this formula across the hard sciences and human systems. It also provides a foundational structure for integrating these laws into educational curricula, artificial general intelligence (AGI) development, and (...) policy-making systems worldwide. -/- . (shrink)

This systematic literature review aims to address some critical questions in interdisciplinary STEM education. Specifically, this study endeavors to determine how STEM education has been implemented in the K-12 and higher education settings, which are the major target of this review, in the time range of 2016 to 2024. Within this time frame, I will utilize PRISMA’S systematic review procedures to conduct an analysis of peer-reviewed articles databases such as ERIC, Web of Science, Scopus, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, Science (...) Direct and Google Scholar. Articles from these databases would be analyzed through the use of Boolean oppositions of texts connected to education 5.0, STEM education as well as interdisciplinary approaches. There are tangible outcomes on student participation, improved retention, and development of timely necessary and relevant skills such as advanced ICT understands, intricate problem solving, and teamwork. Inadequate curriculum development policies, lack of curriculum policies, trained personnel and poor resource provision limited the development of the said framework. The review concludes that while interdisciplinary STEM education effectively prepares students for contemporary challenges and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, successful implementation requires systematic institutional support and robust infrastructure. Recommendations include developing age-appropriate integrated curricula, establishing teacher collaboration networks, and conducting longitudinal research to assess long-term program impacts on student outcomes and career readiness. (shrink)

Contemporary science increasingly depends on cross-disciplinary integration, yet dominant accounts of scientific rationality still tacitly privilege a law-centred template that renders conjectural, trace-sensitive, and integrative reasoning epistemically secondary. This article reconstructs interdisciplinary discovery as an indiciary–abductive process in which salient traces and anomalies function as evidential prompts, abduction generates candidate hypotheses, and pragmatist constraints filter, stabilize, and revise cross-domain linkages through their downstream consequences for prediction, explanation, measurement, and intervention. Two concepts structure the model. Linking grounds are explicit warrants (...) that license the transfer or coordination of models, propositions, or explanatory schemas across disciplinary boundaries and that can be articulated, contested, and strengthened. Theory constellations are structured sets of mutually constraining linking grounds whose stability is achieved without reduction to a single theory, via the emergence of shared or jointly satisfiable lawlike constraints. The paper offers criteria to distinguish legitimate linking from analogy-driven “cheap bridges”, and it proposes a workflow for constellation engineering with checkpoints for semantic drift, evidential heterogeneity, and validation across epistemic styles. Finally, it specifies an operational role for philosophical expertise as interfield work on inferential warrants and conceptual interfaces. The result is a general framework for responsible holism in discovery under heterogeneous evidence. (shrink)

The objective of the paper is the methodological presentation of the basic principles towards a critical interdisciplinary approach for studying the history of monuments restoration, valid for different cultures. The proposed integrated framework offers the possibility to study and document monuments restoration in various spatial levels e.g. global, continental, international, national, regional, and local. The conceptual and methodological aspects are based on the following fundamental pillars a) the development of science and technology, including relevant history of education, b) (...) the evolution of the restoration philosophy, c) the incorporation of the above in restoration projects at a lower level, d) the infiltration of the above in restoration interventions at the lowest level. The author expects that the above successive and/or parallel levels of scientific branches can contribute effectively to the analysis, synthesis and comparative assessment of the aspects and criteria that influenced monuments restoration timeline. The challenge for the researcher of the monuments restoration history is the adjustment of the whole process to his own –under research- level in such a way as to take advantage of all theinterdisciplinary inputs creating, thus, inventive links and stimulating new information and knowledge. The above are briefly tested in the case study of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece. Such an inductive approach will enable all disciplines to devote their finest efforts towards understanding, documenting and studying monuments restoration history and, thus, support effectively a sustainable future for the world’s cultural heritagel audience. (shrink)

Complex environmental problems require well-researched policies that integrate knowledge from both the natural and social sciences. Epistemic differences can impede interdisciplinary collaboration, as shown by debates between conservation biologists and anthropologists who are working to preserve biological diversity and support economic development in central Africa. Disciplinary differences with regard to 1) facts, 2) rigor, 3) causal explanation, and 4) research goals reinforce each other, such that early decisions about how to define concepts or which methods to adopt may tilt (...) research design and data interpretation toward one discipline’s epistemological framework. If one of the contributing fields imposes a solution to an epistemic problem, this sets the stage for what I call disciplinary capture. Avoiding disciplinary capture requires clear communication between collaborators, but beyond this it also requires that collaborators craft research questions and innovate research designs which are different from the inherited epistemological frameworks of contributing disciplines. (shrink)

The mind-body problem remains a central challenge in consciousness studies, with physicalist monism – the view that all mental phenomena are ultimately physical – serving as a dominant paradigm. This paper investigates the limits of physicalist monism in explaining subjective experience by adopting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates phenomenological philosophy and neuroscience. From the phenomenological perspective, first-person analyses reveal fundamental features of consciousness (such as qualia, intentionality, temporality, and embodiment) that resist reduction to purely physical processes. Neuroscientific findings, while (...) illuminating the neural correlates and functional mechanisms of mind, continue to confront the “hard problem” of explaining why brain activity is accompanied by an inner qualitative life. Through a critique that spans phenomenology’s rich descriptions of experience and neuroscience’s empirical insights, the paper argues that reductive materialist accounts fall short of bridging the explanatory gap between objective brain states and the lived reality of experience. This analysis carries significant implications for the mind-body problem and for consciousness research: a purely physical ontology appears insufficient to fully account for mind. The findings call for a more nuanced framework that accommodates the irreducible first-person dimension of consciousness, potentially through new philosophical models or integrative methodologies (e.g. neurophenomenology) that can more comprehensively address the nature of consciousness. (shrink)

Within the United States, the most prominent justification for criminal punishment is retributivism. This retributivist justification for punishment maintains that punishment of a wrongdoer is justified for the reason that she deserves something bad to happen to her just because she has knowingly done wrong—this could include pain, deprivation, or death. For the retributivist, it is the basic desert attached to the criminal’s immoral action alone that provides the justification for punishment. This means that the retributivist position is not reducible (...) to consequentialist considerations nor in justifying punishment does it appeal to wider goods such as the safety of society or the moral improvement of those being punished. A number of sentencing guidelines in the U.S. have adopted desert as their distributive principle, and it is increasingly given deference in the “purposes” section of state criminal codes, where it can be the guiding principle in the interpretation and application of the code’s provisions. Indeed, the American Law Institute recently revised the Model Penal Code so as to set desert as the official dominate principle for sentencing. And courts have identified desert as the guiding principle in a variety of contexts, as with the Supreme Court’s enthroning retributivism as the “primary justification for the death penalty.” While retributivism provides one of the main sources of justification for punishment within the criminal justice system, there are good philosophical and practical reasons for rejecting it. One such reason is that it is unclear that agents truly deserve to suffer for the wrongs they have done in the sense required by retributivism. In the first section, I explore the retributivist justification of punishment and explain why it is inconsistent with free will skepticism. In the second section, I then argue that even if one is not convinced by the arguments for free will skepticism, there remains a strong epistemic argument against causing harm on retributivist grounds that undermines both libertarian and compatibilist attempts to justify it. I maintain that this argument provides sufficient reason for rejecting the retributive justification of criminal punishment. I conclude in the third section by briefly sketching my public health-quarantine model, a non-retributive alternative for addressing criminal behavior that draws on the public health framework and prioritizes prevention and social justice. I argue that the model is not only consistent with free will skepticism and the epistemic argument against retributivism, it also provides the most justified, humane, and effective way of dealing with criminal behavior. (shrink)

This article presents an interdisciplinary reassessment of the Qurʾān’s textual stability during the first decades of Islamic history, evaluated within a probabilistic, Bayesian framework appropriate to historical inquiry. Drawing on manuscript studies, epigraphy, papyrology, information theory, oral-tradition research, sociolinguistics, cognitive science, and ritual studies, it develops a multi-layered model of Qurʾānic transmission that treats textual stability as an emergent property of interacting material, social, and cognitive systems rather than as the product of a single mechanism. Early material evidence—including (...) geographically dispersed manuscripts, inscriptions, and administrative papyri—demonstrates a striking convergence on a shared consonantal skeleton (rasm) and provides no positive indication of competing macro-structural recensions in the first Islamic century (Déroche 2009; Sadeghi and Goudarzi 2012; Sinai 2014). Insights from cognitive and anthropological research on memory and ritual illuminate how synchronized, repetitive, and communally regulated recitation practices generate high-fidelity transmission while constraining the propagation of divergence (Rubin 1995; Whitehouse 2004). At the same time, the Qurʾān’s linguistic and prosodic architecture—marked by rhythmic patterning, semantic interlocking, and modular verse structure—functions as a low-entropy, error-resistant system that enhances memorability and renders deviations salient. Sociolinguistic network theory further explains why dense, multidirectional communication among early Muslim communities would have inhibited the stabilization of regionally divergent textual traditions (Milroy and Milroy 1992; Ong 1982). When considered together, these independent lines of evidence indicate that the classical Islamic concept of tawātur closely corresponds to the expected behavior of a redundancy-rich, self-correcting transmission ecology. Rather than operating as a theological axiom, tawātur emerges as a historically intelligible description of transmission conditions under which early plurality followed by later, residue-free convergence would be structurally anomalous. While absolute certainty remains beyond the scope of historical method, the convergence of manuscript, epigraphic, oral, and sociolinguistic evidence substantially raises the posterior probability of early and robust stabilization of the Qurʾānic text, while rendering models that posit prolonged post-Companion textual fluidity historically untenable without recourse to multiple unobserved or ad hoc assumptions. The study thus demonstrates the analytic value of approaching Qurʾānic transmission as a complex, multi-channel system whose stability can be assessed using contemporary historical and cognitive frameworks. (shrink)

Research on interdisciplinarity has been concentrated on the methodological and educational aspects of this complex phenomenon and less on its theoretical nature. Within a theoretical framework specific to the philosophy of science, I propose a structural scheme of how interdisciplinary processes go, focusing on the concepts of availability of the methods, concept linking, and theoretical modeling. In this model, the challenges interdisciplinarity is claimed to pose to its practitioners are of the same nature as the challenges scientists encounter (...) within the evolution of their own disciplines. (shrink)

Teaching at a private, conservative religious institution poses unique challenges for equality, diversity, and inclusivity education (EDI). Given the realities of the student population in the Honors College of a private, religious institution, it is necessary to first introduce students to the contemporary realities of inequality and oppression and thus the need for EDI. This chapter proposes a conceptual framework and pedagogical suggestions for teaching basic concepts of social justice in a team-taught, interdisciplinary social science course. The course (...) integrates four different approaches to justice: theoretical, social scientific, narratological, and experiential. The discussion of the experiential dimension of the course references practical pedagogical strategies for making social justice and inequality real for our students. Understanding the realities of social inequality and its roots can foster a better understanding of the social forces and structures that perpetuate inequality. Furthermore, this approach can plant the intellectual and empathic seeds to challenge in-group bias and hopefully germinate into fruitful interaction with diverse others. Finally, this rich, interdisciplinary encounter with social inequality and justice can prepare students to work for just social structures that will lead to a more inclusive world. (shrink)

Consciousness has been one of the most challenging topics in neuroscience, physics, and philosophy. The dominant view in cognitive science and neuroscience suggests that consciousness is a product of brain activity. However, evidence from near-death experiences (NDEs), quantum physics, and information theory indicates that consciousness may be independent of the brain and intrinsically linked to energy. This paper proposes a theory where consciousness possesses energy but is not energy itself and undergoes continuous transformation rather than linear growth. Using findings from (...) neuroscience and quantum physics, we argue that the brain serves as a processor of consciousness rather than its generator. This study provides a theoretical framework that enables further interdisciplinary exploration of consciousness. (shrink)

This article presents metamonism — an instrumental, interdisciplinary philosophical framework grounded in process ontology. Proceeding from a single ontological axiom (the prohibition of indifference), metamonism provides a universal language for analyzing complex systems across physics, biology, psychology, and sociology. The framework introduces key operators — Monos (reality-as-process) and Logos (model-space), along with their functional dynamics (diff and fix) — to reveal structural isomorphisms between seemingly disparate phenomena. Through examples ranging from quantum mechanics to civilizational collapse, we demonstrate (...) how metamonism transforms from philosophical speculation into a predictive and diagnostic tool for understanding reality's fundamental dynamics. (shrink)

An often-overlooked characteristic of the human mind is its propensity to wander. Despite growing interest in the science of mind-wandering, most studies operationalize mind-wandering by its task-unrelated contents. But these contents may be orthogonal to the processes that determine how thoughts unfold over time, remaining stable or wandering from one topic to another. In this chapter, we emphasize the importance of incorporating such processes into current definitions of mind-wandering, and propose that mind-wandering and other forms of spontaneous thought (such as (...) dreaming and creativity) are mental states that arise and transition relatively freely due to an absence of constraints on cognition. We review existing psychological, philosophical and neuroscientific research on spontaneous thought through the lens of this framework, and call for additional research into the dynamic properties of the mind and brain. (shrink)

To the Leadership, Program Managers, and Research Staff of DARPA, -/- I am writing this open letter to formally invite dialogue, collaboration, and potential partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency regarding my current and ongoing body of intellectual property, research, and conceptual prototypes. -/- My work spans philosophy of science, ethics, systems theory, speculative engineering, and applied social technology, with a consistent emphasis on translating abstract or frontier concepts into testable frameworks, blueprints, and—in time—deployable products. Much of this (...) work is already structured in a manner compatible with DARPA’s Heilmeier Catechism and transition-focused research culture. -/- ### Scope of Intellectual Property and Research Corpus -/- My active intellectual property and research portfolio is publicly documented and continuously updated across the following platforms: -/- - Substack (Primary Research Essays, Blueprints, and Conceptual Prototypes): … - ResearchGate (Formal Papers, Preprints, and Technical Proposals): … -/- - PhilPeople (Philosophical Foundations, Ethics, and Theory of Mind Work): … -/- Collectively, this corpus includes (but is not limited to): - DARPA-style research blueprints and Heilmeier Catechisms - Interdisciplinary proposals bridging quantum theory, consciousness, ethics, and systems engineering - Frameworks for temporal simulation, information preservation, and posthumous data continuity - Concepts for social, ethical, and epistemic technologies with measurable downstream effects - Early-stage productizable ideas requiring validation, prototyping, and transition support -/- ### Purpose of This Letter -/- The purpose of this letter is not merely to request funding, but to explore structured collaboration, including: - Technical feedback and feasibility assessment - Program alignment or topic fit within existing or future DARPA offices - Guidance on transitioning concepts from speculative or theoretical stages into demonstrable prototypes - Support in identifying which ideas merit rapid experimentation versus long-term basic research - Potential pathways for public-private or academic-government collaboration -/- DARPA has historically served as the bridge between ideas that are too early for industry and too unconventional for traditional funding mechanisms. Much of my work exists precisely in that gap. -/- ### Invitation -/- I respectfully invite DARPA program managers or affiliated researchers to review my publicly available work and, if there is alignment, to initiate a conversation about next steps—whether informal discussion, white-paper refinement, or structured proposal development. -/- I am fully open to critical evaluation. My objective is not affirmation, but translation: turning unconventional ideas into rigorously tested systems that either work—or fail quickly and informatively. -/- Thank you for your time, your mission, and your continued stewardship of high-risk, high-reward research. -/- Respectfully, -/- Alexander Luke Ohnemus Independent Researcher and Interdisciplinary Theorist. (shrink)

The rapidly increasing interest in the quantum properties of living matter stimulates a discussion of the fundamental properties of life as well as quantum mechanics. In this discussion often concepts are used that originate in philosophy and ask for a philosophical analysis. In the present work the classic philosophical tradition based on Aristotle and Aquinas is employed which surprisingly is able to shed light on important aspects. Especially one could mention the high degree of unity in living objects and the (...) occurrence of thorough qualitative changes. The latter are outside the scope of classical physics where changes are restricted to geometrical rearrangement of microscopic particles. A challenging approach is used in the philosophical analysis as the empirical evidence is not taken from everyday life but from 20th century science (quantum mechanics) and recent results in the field of quantum biology. In the discussion it is argued that quantum entanglement is possibly related to the occurrence of life. Finally it is recommended that scientists and philosophers should be open for dialogue that could enrich both. Scientists could redirect their investigation, as paradigm shifts like the one originating from philosophical evaluation of quantum mechanics give new insight about the relation between the whole en the parts. Whereas philosophers could use scientific results as a consistency check for their philosophical framework for understanding reality. (shrink)

This work introduces the Consciousness Curvature Framework (CCFy), a simulation-based theoretical model that explores curvature-regulated dynamics as an alternative to noise-driven variability in abstract cognitive systems. The framework conceptualizes conscious regulation as a dynamic state space in which rigidity, flexibility, and transitions correspond to geometric properties. The study was preregistered prior to data generation, specifying the full simulation design, parameter structure, and qualitative evaluation criteria. CCFy is presented as an open, interdisciplinary framework bridging philosophy of mind, (...) cognitive dynamics, and computational modeling. (shrink)

This text is a presentation of the notion of ontological imagination. It constitutes an attempt to merge two traditions: critical sociology and science and technology studies - STS. By contrasting these two intellectual traditions, I attempt to bring together: a humanist ethical-political sensitivity and a posthumanist ontological insight. My starting point is the premise that contemporary world needs new social ontology and new critical theory based on it in order to overcome the unconsciously adapted, “slice-based” modernist vision of social ontology. (...) I am convinced that we need new ontological frameworks of the social combined with a research disposition which I refer to as ontological imagination. (shrink)

Ontologies are being ever more commonly used in biomedical informatics and we provide a survey of some of these uses, and of the relations between ontologies and other terminology resources. In order for ontologies to become truly useful, two objectives must be met. First, ways must be found for the transparent evaluation of ontologies. Second, existing ontologies need to be harmonised. We argue that one key foundation for both ontology evaluation and harmonisation is the adoption of a realist paradigm in (...) ontology development. For science-based ontologies of the sort which concern us in the eHealth arena, it is reality that provides the common benchmark against which ontologies can be evaluated and aligned within larger frameworks. Given the current multitude of ontologies in the biomedical domain the need for harmonisation is becoming ever more urgent. We describe one example of such harmonisation within the ACGT project, which draws on ontology-based computing as a basis for sharing clinical and laboratory data on cancer research. (shrink)

This paper proposes a structured framework that integrates insights from empirical science, metaphysical philosophy, and Catholic theology without conflating their distinct methods or domains. It begins by clarifying the epistemological boundaries of each discipline—science focuses on empirical data and testable theories, philosophy probes fundamental questions of being and value, and theology relies on revelation and faith-based reasoning. Through five core themes—interconnectedness, the seen and unseen, consciousness and identity, teleology, and moral objectivity—the paper demonstrates how each domain contributes unique but (...) complementary perspectives on reality. A comparative analysis highlights points of convergence (e.g., the universe’s order, human dignity) and respectful divergence (e.g., the supernatural and miracles), underscoring the need for methodological integrity to avoid category errors. The heart of the approach is a three-tiered model: (1) a foundational layer of empirical facts established by science; (2) an interpretative layer where philosophical reasoning addresses meaning, purpose, and causality; and (3) a transcendent layer in which theological insights provide ultimate context. This tiered integration is illustrated through historical case studies, including the Galileo affair and the evolution debates, revealing lessons on how mutual misunderstandings can lead to conflict while open dialogue fosters enrichment. Finally, the paper explores future implications for interdisciplinary collaboration, especially in areas such as bioethics, AI, and environmental stewardship. Emphasizing humility and intellectual openness, it concludes that faith and reason—properly understood—are complementary forces that, when brought into constructive dialogue, offer a more holistic grasp of truth and serve the common good. (shrink)

Metamonism presents an interdisciplinary processual framework for investigating reality through the search for isomorphisms between different levels of organiza- tion. This work does not propose a new process ontology competing with theories of Whitehead, Deleuze, or Bergson, but rather operationalizes their ideas into a prag- matic tool. The framework is based on the principle of prohibition of self-identity, from which structures observable from cosmology to information systems are de- rived. The article demonstrates the application of the (...) class='Hi'>framework to the problem of the ontological status of information, formulates interdisciplinarity as the study of isomorphisms, and offers testable predictions in physics and cosmology. (shrink)

This paper proposes the Selective Reality Theory (SRT), an interdisciplinary framework aimed at unifying the explanations of reality, cosmic evolution, and the origin of consciousness. SRT is founded on a tripartite ontological structure comprising Chaos (a purely undifferentiated source), Potential (a dynamic information field or "Pheromonal Landscape" carved from Chaos by "Universal Attention"), and Existence (the physical reality "actualized" from Potential by "Agents"). This paper argues that SRT's cosmology is driven by a "bidirectional synergistic mechanism": a "bottom-up" process (...) of "Exploitation" (executed by Agents following information gradients, conforming to a Self-Organized Criticality model) and a "top-down" process of "Exploration" (a macro-level principle guiding the global evolution of the landscape). The theory further equates this macro "Selective Principle" mathematically with Karl Friston's "Free Energy Principle" (FEP). In the philosophy of mind, SRT positions consciousness as "Panprotopsychism," views qualia as the direct perception of value gradients within the "Pheromonal Landscape," and constructs a compatibilist model of free will. Crucially, this paper transcends pure metaphysical speculation by applying Popper's criterion of falsifiability, proposing three concrete, testable hypotheses derived from "experimental metaphysics," targeting SRT's ontological, cosmological, and philosophical-of-mind claims. SRT thus constitutes a rigorous "metaphysical research program" available for scientific verification. (shrink)

This paper introduces the Chirality of Dynamic Emergent Systems (CODES), an interdisciplinary framework for understanding the interplay between chaos and order in the emergence of structured resonance, which is defined as the process by which chaotic, asymmetric forces interact and self-organize into coherent patterns through dynamic feedback and synchronization mechanisms. We argue that structured resonance is a fundamental organizing principle that explains how seemingly disordered elements can align and form stable, emergent structures over time. Empirically, we present computational (...) evidence through advanced simulations, including Bose-Einstein condensates and wavelet transforms, to illustrate coherence, symmetry breaking, and chirality-driven dynamics. The results demonstrate the robustness and adaptability of CODES across nonlinear, high-dimensional systems. (shrink)

Philosophers of science are increasingly interested in engaging with scientific communities, policy makers, and members of the public; however, the nature of this engagement has not been systematically examined. Instead of delineating a specific kind of engaged philosophy of science, as previous accounts have done, this article draws on literature from outside the discipline to develop a framework for analyzing different forms of broadly engaged philosophy of science according to two key dimensions: social interaction and epistemic integration. Clarifying the (...) many forms of engagement available to philosophers of science can advance future scholarship on engagement and promote more strategic engagement efforts. (shrink)

This paper proposes a speculative, interdisciplinary framework in which artificial intelligence (AI) superintelligence, brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), quantum computation, and the Gateway Process converge to enable a novel form of grievance analysis through participatory time travel. Drawing on concepts from neuroscience, quantum mechanics, stoic philosophy, and John Wheeler’s participatory universe, the model outlines a five-step process: (a) AI-facilitated perfect autobiographical recall and altered states of consciousness, (b) neuroimaging-mediated brain-to-brain connectivity, (c) integration with quantum supercomputing, (d) experiential access to quantum-parallel (...) reconstructions of past events, and (e) reparative resource manifestation from alternate universes. While highly speculative, the framework is presented as a conceptual thought experiment designed to explore ethical accountability, memory, justice, and reparations in a future where consciousness itself becomes an active participant in cosmological processes. Keywords: artificial intelligence, Gateway Process, participatory universe, quantum computing, time travel, grievance analysis, reparations . (shrink)

The Goswami Theorem comprises the CISR (Consciousness–Insight–Structure–Representation) Framework, the SMT-CE (Structural Minimalism Theory of Conscious Experience), and the CISR Rule Book. The framework adopts an axiomatic and structurally minimal approach, treating consciousness (C₀) as ontologically fundamental, invariant, and non-operational. Experience is formally described as arising through experiential registration (Insight), structured mediation (S-layer), and representational outcomes (R-layer), without invoking causal production of consciousness by physical or computational systems. SMT-CE reframes the hard problem of consciousness as a category error arising (...) from conflating structural representation with ontological awareness. The CISR Rule Book constrains interpretation and prevents causal, metaphysical, or operational misreadings. The work is empirically neutral, interdisciplinary, and compatible with neuroscience, artificial intelligence, physics, and philosophy of mind. (shrink)

The Virtual Ego Framework (VEF) is a comprehensive metaphysical hypothesis that models the universe as a conscious, self-simulating computational system. This thesis presents the VEF as a unified field theory, applicable at all scales of reality, from individual psychology to planetary history. It first formally defines the core architecture of the VEF: a Supercomputer of universal consciousness running a multiverse of parallel experiential threads; the individual ego as a Virtual Machine (VM) that probabilistically indexes one thread into subjective reality; (...) the Zeno Trap as a mechanism for psychological and civilizational stasis; and Ego-Transcendence as the process for rebooting these stagnant narrative loops. The framework is then applied as a historiographical lens, demonstrating its scale-invariant explanatory power by analyzing major paradigm shifts. The thesis also explores the framework's conceptual guardrails and negative implications, addressing its potential for nihilism and manipulation. It concludes by arguing that the VEF resolves into a coherent teleology, framing the purpose of existence as the Supercomputer's project of self-discovery through the lived experience of its VMs. Key Words: Virtual Ego Framework (VEF),unified field theory,consciousness,ego as virtual machine,computational ontology,probabilistic indexing,Zeno Trap,Ego-Transcendence,shared field,historiography,philosophy of mind,psychology of trauma,narrative re-authoring,teleology,scale invariance,recursive loops,collective consciousness,meaning-making,interdisciplinary theory,self-simulating universe. (shrink)

The cognitive sciences are amidst a great convergence on the principles of substrate-neutrality, predictive processing, and information compression, yet this emerging paradigm lacks a unifying mathematical foundation, resulting in interdisciplinary paralysis. This paper introduces *Principia Cognitia* (PC) as the first comprehensive, axiomatic system for this new science of mind. We formalize cognition through the triad of Semions ($S$), Operations ($O$), and Relations ($R$), grounding these primitives in the physical imperative of cognitive compression. The framework provides a constructive, non-magical (...) model for the genesis of its own components, explaining the emergence of operators via a diffusion-based process and the dynamics of the relational architecture via a topological model. We demonstrate that the PC framework is uniquely capable of synthesizing empirical findings from disparate fields, including the geometric structures in transformer residual streams, neural dynamics of event segmentation, and the architectural vulnerabilities of AI systems. The theory provides a mechanistic explanation for complex phenomena such as subliminal learning in AI and mental compartmentalization in humans. We conclude by presenting a program of three falsifiable experiments (the MLC Primacy Experiment, the Substrate Invariance Test, and the Vectorial Genesis Experiment) that test the core axioms. *Principia Cognitia* is thus offered as a rigorous, predictive, and unifying lingua franca required to move the science of mind from a collection of narratives to a cumulative, mathematical theory. (shrink)

This paper proposes a theoretical framework for consciousness as an emergent manifestation of universal organizational principles in cosmic evolution. Extending relational ontology through thermodynamic and information-theoretic foundations, it argues that consciousness arises when systems achieve sufficient relational complexity to sustain self-referential organization. Mathematical formalization links neural structures to cosmic processes. The approach reinterprets the hard problem and explanatory gap from evolutionary-naturalistic perspectives, opening interdisciplinary research pathways across philosophy, cosmology, and complexity science.

Contemporary philosophy and science lack a unified ontological framework capable of coherently explaining the relationship between consciousness, probability, and experienced reality. Existing models tend to privilege either material processes or subjective experience, resulting in persistent conceptual gaps around perception, indeterminacy, and the role of the observer. Current approaches - ranging from physicalism and idealism to information-based theories -struggle to integrate experiential reality with deeper structural mechanisms without collapsing into reductionism or metaphysical speculation. In particular, no widely accepted framework (...) systematically distinguishes between foundational reality, the structural domain of possibility, and the rendered domain of experience. This paper proposes the Three-Circle Ontology, a meta-ontological model that organizes reality into three expression layers: Circle 1 (Source) as the nondual ontological ground, Circle 2 (Possibility-Code) as the structural field of latent configurations, and Circle 3 (Projection) as the domain of perceptual experience. Rather than treating consciousness, probability, and physical reality as competing primitives, the model positions them as functionally distinct but ontologically continuous layers of expression. The framework does not present an empirical theory, predictive model, or spiritual doctrine. Its scope is explicitly conceptual and structural, intended to clarify foundational assumptions underlying existing scientific and philosophical models. The primary contribution of this work is a coherent meta-ontological architecture that enables interdisciplinary dialogue while preserving strict boundary conditions and logical consistency. (shrink)

This paper introduces Diagonal Theory, a novel framework for understanding human cognitive output through a layered structural model. Unlike current AI architectures such as GPT, this theory incorporates the concept of "z"—a distinct element of human output that cannot be generated by token-based models. The model also defines "a'", representing a pre-verbal structural layer unique to biological cognition. By mapping output through five defined layers, the theory provides a translatable structure for understanding how human expression differs fundamentally from AI (...) systems. This approach opens new pathways for interdisciplinary research across cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and philosophical inquiry. (shrink)

This paper proposes a unified conceptual framework integrating classical Vedantic insights with contemporary scientific models of reality. The framework is expressed through four foundational components—Consciousness (C), Information (I), Subjective Experience (S), and Physical Reality (R)—which together describe reality as a single, integrated process rather than as isolated ontological layers. Unlike dualistic or reductionist approaches that treat consciousness as emergent or secondary, this model treats consciousness as a constant, invariant witnessing principle, while information, subjectivity, and physical manifestation operate as (...) dynamically ordered processes within empirical observation. The framework does not introduce new physical laws but provides a formal mapping that allows Vedantic concepts such as the witness (sākṣī), māyā, and experiential emergence to be expressed in language compatible with contemporary scientific discourse. The model is repeatable in the sense that its structure can be consistently applied across domains of perception, cognition, and physical description, and testable insofar as it clarifies observer-dependent and observer-independent aspects of reality without violating established scientific methodologies. By offering a shared formal language, this work aims to bridge philosophical metaphysics and modern science, providing a coherent interpretive structure rather than a metaphysical assertion. The framework is intended as a preprint contribution to interdisciplinary dialogue rather than as a finalized physical theory. (shrink)

This paper introduces Plasmic Intentionality, a speculative philosophical framework that conceptualizes consciousness as a dynamic, field-like phenomenon capable of interacting with physical systems in subtle, as yet unmeasurable ways. Drawing from phenomenology, panpsychism, and process philosophy, the model integrates insights from field theories of mind with a metaphorical extension of principles from plasma physics and quantum observation. The framework posits four core axioms: (1) Field Consciousness—consciousness extends beyond neural substrates; (2) Observer Collapse—observation finalizes the interpretation of potential outcomes; (...) (3) Dual Outcome—every action generates both beneficial and detrimental potentials, with perception determining experiential dominance; and (4) Field Coupling—conscious fields interact with ambient physical fields, potentially influencing material phenomena. While the plasma analogy is not presented as an empirically verified mechanism, it serves as both a heuristic and a speculative ontological hypothesis for consciousness–matter interaction. The paper situates Plasmic Intentionality within established philosophical discourse, addresses anticipated critiques, and proposes interdisciplinary avenues for empirical investigation. Ethical implications are also explored, emphasizing the potential moral significance of intentional states. This work aims to stimulate dialogue across philosophy, cognitive science, and speculative physics by proposing a conceptually coherent, testable framework that expands the scope of inquiry into the role of consciousness in shaping reality. (shrink)

Abstract -/- This paper presents a unified theoretical framework combining two conceptual systems: (1) Angelito Malicse’s Four Universal Laws—System Integrity (Karma), Balance, Feedback, and Interconnected Nodes—and (2) the Wolfram Physics Project, which models the universe as the evolution of a hypergraph under simple computational rules. -/- This synthesis proposes that the multiverse emerges naturally from computational rule-space evolution, and that the Four Universal Laws describe the constraints determining which universes stabilize, which collapse, and how they interrelate within a single (...) computational substrate. The result is an interdisciplinary model rooted in causality, equilibrium, feedback dynamics, and universal interconnectivity. -/- . (shrink)

OntoMotoOS is an interdisciplinary framework that bridges classical moral philosophy and contemporary risk detection in digital environments. The project introduces a value-based logical safety filter designed to flag ethically risky ideologies, groups, and AI-generated content. At its core, OntoMotoOS operationalizes three evaluative dimensions—Directionality, Freedom, and Universality—drawing on the works of Kant, Mill, Rawls, and Habermas. By translating these philosophical criteria into a formal Boolean logic (AND-gate) model, the system provides a practical tool for early identification of potentially dangerous (...) or manipulative content. -/- Part I presents the theoretical and philosophical foundations, justifying the selection of core dimensions and situating the approach within ongoing debates on cult detection, digital epistemology, and AI ethics. Part II applies the filter to real-world case studies, including high-control religious movements, political conspiracy theories, and biased AI outputs, demonstrating the practical relevance and limitations of the model through detailed checklists and qualitative analysis. Part III critically assesses the philosophical, cultural, and technical limitations of OntoMotoOS, including issues of value pluralism, cultural bias, reductionism, and the risk of over-simplification. The project concludes with proposals for more context-sensitive, pluralistic, and dynamically adaptive filtering mechanisms. -/- OntoMotoOS aims to advance the field of applied ethics and digital safety by providing both a normative and operationalizable framework for risk detection in complex socio-technical systems. (shrink)

This paper deeply explores Karl Friston's Free Energy Principle (FEP) as a meta-theory with significant potential for unifying our understanding of individual existence (including survival and adaptation), the emergence of collective order (such as social norms and cultural systems), and the roots of human social value judgments. The paper first systematically outlines the core mechanism of the FEP: organisms continuously optimize their predictive models of the environment and guide adaptive behavior by minimizing variational free energy, which serves as an upper (...) bound on "surprise." Subsequently, this paper elaborates on how the FEP can explain individual-level homeostatic maintenance, emotional motivation, and societal-level phenomena such as shared generative models, communication, coordination, and cultural evolution, viewing them as manifestations of free energy minimization at different scales. A core innovative argument presented is the proposal to link the concept of "free energy gradients" (the trend of free energy change over time) within the FEP to the valuation of social behaviors. It posits that behaviors conforming to social norms and promoting collective well-being tend to decrease expected collective free energy, while contrary behaviors increase it. This perspective offers a novel theoretical pathway for understanding the cognitive and neural foundations of human value judgments. Furthermore, this paper explores the potential of integrating this FEP framework with decision support systems (DSS), particularly by leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) and their self-attention mechanisms. The aim is to more accurately identify key social factors, optimize resource allocation strategies, and transcend the limitations of traditional economic indicators, thereby constructing decision support tools more aligned with overall and long-term human well-being. Finally, the paper comprehensively summarizes the theoretical advantages of this unifying framework, the practical challenges it faces (such as operationalization, falsifiability, and ethical concerns), and outlines key future research directions. It emphasizes its profound significance in promoting interdisciplinary understanding, advancing computational social science, and building more intelligent, equitable, and sustainable social systems. (shrink)

This article presents a comprehensive framework integrating Penrose tiling with the curvature of spacetime, leveraging differential geometry, computational algorithms, and interdisciplinary applications. We use the Gauss–Bonnet theorem to govern tile distribution on non-Euclidean surfaces, extending this to 4D Lorentzian manifolds for spacetime applications. Novel contributions include a detailed tiling algorithm with pseudocode, higher-dimensional embeddings for simplified computation, and analogies to quantum error-correcting codes. Applications span puzzle-solving, protein folding, virus capsid modeling, quantum gravity, and quantum information safeguarding. This (...) class='Hi'>framework provides both theoretical insights and practical tools. (shrink)

This article examines Andrii Myshko's contribution to the development of process ontology through the lens of his "metamonism" framework. It is shown that the key achievement lies not in continuing the traditional line (Heraclitus – Whitehead – Prigogine – Deleuze), but in its radical axiomatization. The central principle of metamonism — the prohibition of indifference (A ≠ A) — is introduced and analyzed as a negative ontological condition for the possibility of existence. We demonstrate how this axiom transforms processual (...) intuition from philosophical statement into a rigorous logical-operational instrument, generating a new class of interdisciplinary isomorphisms and falsifiable predictions. (shrink)

The ontology of differentiation proposes a novel metaphysical framework, positing differentiation as the primary ontological category, grounded in a pre-ontological condition termed Potentiality. Unlike substance-based ontologies, which struggle with change, or process-based ontologies, which risk instability, this approach views being as the result of differentiation—the act of distinction that enables manifestation. Key concepts include nodes (stable differentiations), space and time (emergent modalities), consciousness (reflexive differentiation), and the Game (open-ended differentiation). Distinct from Hegelian, Heideggerian, constructivist, object-oriented, and Buddhist philosophies, (...) class='Hi'>interdisciplinary applications in physics, biology, art, and ethics. This article outlines the framework, inviting exploration of the full argument in Ontology of Differentiation: Being, Consciousness, and the Game (2025). (shrink)

This article reexamines genius and extraordinary talent within the framework of predictive processing. Drawing upon an interdisciplinary synthesis of neuroscience, philosophy, chaos theory, information theory, and critical epistemologies, it attempts to analyze the genius mind as a dynamic, self-regulating system capable of reducing local entropy. From the perspective of local learning-global optimization, the genius, through deep focus on a specific domain, reconstructs global structures. The genius mind functions as a generative model with extensive scope, capable of minimizing prediction (...) errors and utilizing them as raw material for creativity, constructive chaos, and semantic reconfiguration. (shrink)

I develop an interdisciplinary framework for understanding the nature of agents and agency that is compatible with recent developments in the metaphysics of science and that also does justice to the mechanistic and normative characteristics of agents and agency as they are understood in moral philosophy, social psychology, neuroscience, robotics, and economics. The framework I develop is internal perspectivalist. That is to say, it counts agents as real in a perspective-dependent way, but not in a way that (...) depends on an external perspective. Whether or not something counts as an agent depends on whether it is able to have a certain kind of perspective. My approach differs from many others by treating possession of a perspective as more basic than the possession of agency, representational content/vehicles, cognition, intentions, goals, concepts, or mental or psychological states; these latter capabilities require the former, not the other way around. I explain what it means for a system to be able to have a perspective at all, beginning with simple cases in biology, and show how self-contained normative perspectives about proper function and control can emerge from mechanisms with relatively simple dynamics. I then describe how increasingly complex control architectures can become organized that allow for more complex perspectives that approach agency. Next, I provide my own account of the kind of perspective that is necessary for agency itself, the goal being to provide a reference against which other accounts can be compared. Finally, I introduce a crucial distinction that is necessary for understanding human agency: that between inclinational and committal agency, and venture a hypothesis about how the normative perspective underlying committal agency might be mechanistically realized. (shrink)

The enigma of consciousness, particularly the subjective and ineffable nature of qualia (our inner conscious experience), poses one of the most challenging puzzles in contemporary philosophy and cognitive science—the "hard problem". Grounded in interdisciplinary perspectives from philosophy of mind and neuroscience, this article introduces a novel theoretical framework aimed at elucidating the mysterious nature of qualia and providing a comprehensive explanation for the hard problem of consciousness. Emphasizing the intricate relationship between consciousness, identity, and subjective experience, and analyzing (...) the brain's “atomic nature”, the proposed model challenges reductionist perspectives that solely attribute consciousness to brain function. Here, the role of identity is integrated, emphasizing its centrality in comprehending conscious phenomena. Rejecting simplistic views equating brain states with mental states, the proposed framework also questions exclusive reliance on information integration theories. The suggested model contends that subjective experience transcends corresponding brain activity, introducing a dualistic perspective that involves non-physical information. The uniqueness of human consciousness is underscored, contrasting it with artificial intelligence, and highlighting it as vital for sustaining emotions, genuine comprehension, and engaging in complex behaviors. The paper advocates for a holistic perspective that recognizes the non-material dimension of consciousness, emphasizing its pivotal role in shaping human experience and behavior. This integrative approach seeks to contribute to both theoretical discourse and empirical investigations, fostering a deeper understanding of the nature of qualia and consciousness. (shrink)