Grounded Computation & Consciousness: A Framework for Exploring Consciousness in Machines & Other Organisms

TL;DR

This paper proposes a formal ontological framework for grounding computational models of consciousness, enabling estimation of qualitative experience differences between systems, thus advancing understanding of machine and biological consciousness.

Contribution

It introduces a novel ontological grounding framework for computational consciousness models, bridging the gap between abstract computation and experiential qualities.

Findings

Demonstrated a method to estimate qualitative experience differences

Framework applicable to various computational theories of consciousness

Highlights importance of ontological grounding in consciousness modeling

Abstract

Computational modeling is a critical tool for understanding consciousness, but is it enough on its own? This paper discusses the necessity for an ontological basis of consciousness, and introduces a formal framework for grounding computational descriptions into an ontological substrate. Utilizing this technique, a method is demonstrated for estimating the difference in qualitative experience between two systems. This framework has wide applicability to computational theories of consciousness.