Structural Constraints to Compare Phenomenal Experience
Mind and Matter June 30, 2026 J. Díaz-Boils, Naotsugu Tsuchiya, CM. Signorelli
A formal mathematical model, inspired by Husserl's phenomenology, represents structural aspects of conscious experiences as layers that can be experienced in potentiality or actuality. The model shows that comparison among phenomenal experiences is only partial: some experiences are comparable, such as those carrying different aspects in actuality and potentiality, while others are not, such as those with the same number but different aspects in actuality. These results imply that the evolution of consciousness involves diverse modes of experiencing rather than an absolute scale across species. The methodology also clarifies how conceptual assumptions constrain mathematical structure, and how that structure constrains interpretations of phenomenal experience, making formalization transparent.