Emergent Predictive Experience Theory (EPET): An Integrative Philosophy of Consciousness
May 16, 2025 Andrey Kopnin preprint
Consciousness is not a substance or fundamental property but an emergent, dynamic process arising from integrated predictive modeling in an embodied, action-oriented system, according to the Emergent Predictive Experience Theory (EPET). Subjective qualities (qualia) are intrinsic properties of this modeling process, reflecting the system's assessment of interaction relevance for its own viability. The sense of self is a dynamic construct from recursive self-modeling, compatible with the Buddhist doctrine of no-self (Anattā). EPET synthesizes Predictive Processing, Global Workspace Theory, embodied cognition, and Buddhist principles to offer a naturalistic, non-reductive explanation of conscious experience, avoiding dualism, panpsychism, and illusionism.