This theory posits that our lives don't *create* subjective experiences (qualia). Instead, our lives are the emergent result of a fundamental consciousness cycling through a sequence of possible qualia, dictated by probabilistic, Markovian rules.

Intelligence is not a single trait but the culmination of a causal chain. The sequence begins with evolution enabling sensing, which necessitates memory. This leads to consciousness and imagination, which finally allows for free will — the sum total of which is intelligence.

The leading theory of consciousness, Global Workspace Theory, posits a central "stage" where different siloed information processors converge. Today's AI models generally lack this specific architecture, making them unlikely to be conscious under this prominent scientific framework.

Our psychological experiences, including positive and negative emotions, are not separate from our physical selves. They are direct results of biological processes in our brain's limbic system, which evolved as an alert system.

In humans, learning a new skill is a highly conscious process that becomes unconscious once mastered. This suggests a link between learning and consciousness. The error signals and reward functions in machine learning could be computational analogues to the valenced experiences (pain/pleasure) that drive biological learning.

The debate over AI consciousness isn't just because models mimic human conversation. Researchers are uncertain because the way LLMs process information is structurally similar enough to the human brain that it raises plausible scientific questions about shared properties like subjective experience.

Ethical judgment is not born from policies but begins as pre-verbal, physical sensations like a tightness or shift in the body. This 'gut feeling' is the raw data of ethical awareness. Ignoring these bodily cues means missing the foundational step of ethical formation, which occurs faster than rational thought.

We often assume our thoughts cause our feelings. However, the body frequently experiences a physical state first (e.g., anxiety from adrenaline), and the conscious mind then creates a plausible narrative to explain that feeling. This means the "reason" you feel anxious or unmotivated may be a story, not the root physical cause.

According to neuroscientist Jenny Groh, thoughts are constructed by layering sensory experiences (sights, sounds, feelings) onto a core concept. This is why limiting distracting sensory inputs is essential for controlling your focus and preventing your mind from wandering.