The Model of Consciousness: An Analysis of Causation, Self, Gödel’s Incompleteness, and Buddhist Philosophy
Journal of Physics, Conference Series June 1, 2025 Mahendra Samarawickrama
Gödel's incompleteness theorems show that logical and computational systems like Turing machines are inherently incomplete and cannot decide all truths. This paper argues that consciousness, understood as a non-material, chaotic finite-state machine without self-reference, can achieve a complete and decidable grasp of reality. Drawing on Theravāda Buddhist philosophy, the authors propose that awareness of causation, free from self-referencing, aligns with the unpredictable yet deterministic nature of reality, thereby transcending the limitations Gödel identified. This model preserves the integrity of conscious experience and offers a pathway to deeper understanding. Future work aims to develop techniques for sustaining such awareness.