Axiomatizing consciousness, with applications

TL;DR

This paper proposes an axiomatic framework for consciousness inspired by meditation, psychology, logic, and neuroscience, defining key concepts and demonstrating how concentration and mindfulness can reduce suffering.

Contribution

It introduces a novel axiomatic model of consciousness integrating interdisciplinary insights and applies it to show how mental practices can alleviate suffering.

Findings

Axiomatic model of consciousness with configurations

Definitions of self, concentration, mindfulness, suffering

Demonstration of suffering reduction through mental practices

Abstract

Consciousness will be introduced axiomatically, inspired by Buddhist insight meditation and psychology, logic in computer science, and cognitive neuroscience, as consisting of a stream of $configurations$ that is $compound$, $discrete$, and (non-deterministically) $computable$. Within this context the notions of self, concentration, mindfulness, and various forms of suffering can be defined. As an application of this set up, it will be shown how a combined development of concentration and mindfulness can attenuate and eventually eradicate some of the forms of suffering.