The Projective Consciousness Model and Phenomenal Selfhood

Abstract

We summarize our recently introduced Projective Consciousness Model (PCM) (Rudrauf et al., 2017) and relate it to outstanding conceptual issues in the theory of consciousness. The PCM combines a projective geometrical model of the perspectival phenomenological structure of the field of consciousness with a variational Free Energy minimization model of active inference, yielding an account of the cybernetic function of consciousness, viz., the modulation of the field’s cognitive and affective dynamics for the effective control of embodied agents. The geometrical and active inference components are linked via the concept of projective transformation, which is crucial to understanding how conscious organisms integrate perception, emotion, memory, reasoning, and perspectival imagination in order to control behavior, enhance resilience, and optimize preference satisfaction. The PCM makes substantive empirical predictions and fits well into a (neuro)computationalist framework. It also helps us to account for aspects of subjective character that are sometimes ignored or conflated: pre-reflective self-consciousness, the first-person point of view, the sense of minenness or ownership, and social self-consciousness. We argue that the PCM, though still in development, offers us the most complete theory to date of what Thomas Metzinger has called “phenomenal selfhood.”

Minimal phenomenal experience

“…• Simplicity: All the negative phenomenological characteristics and the Low-Complexity constraint introduced in section 2.1 are satisfied. This 24 If all of the above is correct, MPE is a counter-example to the "projective geometry" model of consciousness formulated by Williford, Bennequin, Friston, & Rudrauf (2018). Because of its fundamentally aperspectival nature, it is a phenomenal state not covered by this theory.…”

An Integrated World Modeling Theory (IWMT) of consciousness: Combining Integrated Information and Global Neuronal Workspace Theories with the Free Energy Principle and Active Inference Framework; towards solving the Hard problem and characterizing agentic causation

“…This information is likely a prerequisite for organizing perception into egocentric reference frames (Brewer et al, 2011(Brewer et al, , 2013Guterstam et al, 2015;Smigielski et al, 2019). In line with models in which consciousness depends on projective geometry (Rudrauf et al, 2017;Williford et al, 2018), a stable source of egocentric perspective may represent a practically necessary precondition for there to be "something that it is like": i.e., the ability to generate models with spatial, temporal, and causal coherence for system and world.…”

“…Others emphasize consciousness as awareness of knowledge, or "access" (Block, 2008). IWMT's primary focus is explaining means by which biological systems may generate phenomenality, or experience as a subjective point of view (Williford et al, 2018;Feiten, 2020). However, IWMT suggests that a variety of higher order and meta-cognitive capacities may be required in order to obtain coherent subjectivity-although not necessarily involving either access or explicit selfconsciousness (Milliere and Metzinger, 2020)-and thereby an experienced world.…”

An Investigation of the Free Energy Principle for Emotion Recognition

“…However, this does not mean that the internal states "know" that they are internal. To associate active inference with a minimal sense of self, requires a bit more work (Zahavi, 2008;Limanowski and Blankenburg, 2013;Seth, 2013;Williford et al, 2018).…”