Towards a Possible Definition of Consciousness.
Bio Systems August 1, 2025 Marko Vitas
A new definition of consciousness is proposed, building on a generalized definition of life. Life is characterized as a far-from-equilibrium, self-maintaining system of quantum particles that processes, transforms, and accumulates environmental information. Consciousness is defined as an emergent property of such a system that is sustained by an autopoietic system. The definition aims to be minimal yet broad enough to cover all forms of cognition, including thinking and rationality, and is presented as a possible solution to Chalmers' hard problem of consciousness, with potential relevance to cognitive science, computer science, and artificial intelligence.