A theory of consciousness #1

Transforming raw perception into a meaningful, shared reality

Consciousness is one of humanity’s greatest mysteries. For centuries, philosophers, scientists, and artists have grappled with its nature, yet it continues to elude simple explanation. While much effort has been spent defining consciousness as something fixed - a ‘thing’ located within the brain or mind - I propose a different perspective: consciousness is not a static entity but an action, a dynamic process of meaning-making that transforms perception into story and shared reality.

This idea forms the foundation of Transformative Perception Theory: the notion that consciousness is an active, creative process that turns raw perception into meaningful narratives. Just as love arises from the interplay of emotions, relationships, and life experiences, consciousness emerges as a uniquely human act of engaging with the world, shaping not only how we see it but what it becomes for us. By viewing consciousness through this lens, we can better understand its power to enrich our lives and connect us to each other.

Love and Consciousness: An Analogy

Love is a deeply human phenomenon that defies simple definition. It cannot be located in a specific part of the brain or distilled into a single chemical or experience. Instead, it emerges from a combination of factors: biology, shared history, personal connection, and cultural meaning. These elements come together to create something greater than their parts - an act of deep engagement and transformation.

Consciousness, too, is greater than the sum of its components. Neuroscience can map brain activity, and cognitive science can explain mechanisms like attention or memory, but these alone do not account for the richness of conscious experience. Just as love takes raw emotions and transforms them into connection, consciousness takes raw perception and transforms it into meaning. Both are creative acts that shape how we engage with the world.

This analogy also reveals a key similarity: both love and consciousness exist on a spectrum. We may like someone without loving them, just as we may perceive something without fully engaging with it consciously. The depth and richness of love grows as we invest more in the relationship; similarly, consciousness deepens as we imbue our experiences with meaning, context, and story.

What Is Consciousness? A Human Construct

Consciousness, as a term, is a human invention. It reflects our attempt to name and understand a uniquely human phenomenon: the ability to perceive, reflect, and create meaning. Daniel Dennett refers to this as the ‘narrative self’, suggesting that consciousness is less a static entity and more a process of constructing coherent stories about our experiences. These stories allow us to organise, interpret, and share our realities, making consciousness deeply tied to language and culture.

This raises an important question: is consciousness exclusive to humans, or do animals and AI also possess it in some form? Lev Vygotsky's work on sociocultural development provides insight here, as he argued that language is not merely a tool for communication but the foundation for higher-order thinking and self-awareness. Through internal speech - our ‘inner monologue’ - humans develop the ability to reflect on their experiences and construct meaning, setting our consciousness apart.

By defining consciousness in human terms, we anchor it in the human experience. Animals and AI may have their own forms of awareness, but these are fundamentally different phenomena, shaped by their own contexts and mechanisms. Dennett and Vygotsky’s insights remind us that human consciousness is unique not just because of our capacity for perception, but because of our ability to weave meaning and story through language. Rather than projecting human definitions onto other systems, we might focus on what consciousness means for us as humans - and how we can make the most of it.

Consciousness as a Creative Act

Central to this theory is the idea that consciousness is not a thing but an act - a verb rather than a noun. It is the ongoing process of engaging with the world, transforming raw perception into a meaningful, shared reality. This perspective is deeply rooted in phenomenology, particularly the work of Edmund Husserl, who described consciousness as inherently intentional. According to Husserl, consciousness is always directed toward something - it actively shapes how we experience and understand the world.

From Perception to Meaning

Consider a tree. Without consciousness, it might appear as a collection of objective properties: height, colour, texture. This is perception in its simplest form, a raw awareness of the tree’s physical presence. But when we engage consciously, the tree becomes more than its parts. It might embody life, history, wisdom, or shelter. Consciousness adds depth, turning sensory input into a story.

This process aligns with Husserl’s idea of intentionality, the notion that consciousness is always about something - it does not passively receive information but actively interprets and gives it meaning. Similarly, Gestalt psychology emphasises that we perceive objects as integrated wholes rather than isolated components. Together, these perspectives illustrate how consciousness transforms a tree from a collection of branches and leaves into a unified entity imbued with meaning, shaped by our experiences and cultural narratives. Our minds organise sensory input into patterns and connections, giving the tree depth and significance.

This process also mirrors how love deepens relationships. Just as liking involves surface-level attraction or appreciation, full consciousness involves deeper engagement. It draws on our memories, emotions, and cultural narratives to create something richer and more meaningful - whether it is a relationship with a person or the way we perceive the world around us.

The Role of Language in Consciousness

If consciousness is a creative act, language is its most powerful tool. Language allows us to externalise our thoughts, share our perceptions, and build collective understanding. It enables us to turn private experiences into shared realities, enriching our consciousness and connecting us with others.

Shared Meaning and Reality

Language is not merely a vehicle for communication; it shapes how we see the world. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which explores linguistic relativity, suggests that the structure of language influences perception. For example, some Indigenous languages have multiple words for snow, allowing speakers to perceive and describe its subtleties more vividly than those with a single term. Through language, consciousness creates a shared reality - a web of symbols, values, and stories that defines human experience.

Consciousness as a Spectrum

Just as love exists on a spectrum, so too does consciousness. It is not binary - something you either have or do not have - but exists in varying degrees of depth and complexity. This spectrum might range from proto-consciousness (basic awareness) to full consciousness (rich, reflective engagement). Understanding this continuum helps us appreciate the diversity of conscious experiences without reducing them to a single definition.

Proto-Consciousness vs. Full Consciousness

Proto-Consciousness: Animals and preverbal infants might possess proto-consciousness, a basic awareness of the world without the narrative and symbolic depth of human consciousness. They may perceive a tree as shade or shelter, but not as a source of wisdom or metaphor.

Partial Consciousness: Bridges raw perception and full narrative engagement. It involves a deeper emotional or sensory connection than proto-consciousness but lacks the abstract, symbolic depth of full consciousness. For example, a child might recognise a tree as “beautiful” without articulating why, or an adult in a reflective state might experience it as meaningful but without fully conceptualising that meaning.

Full Consciousness: Humans, through language and culture, engage in full consciousness. We imbue the tree with meaning: it becomes a symbol of life, a source of wood for fire, or a metaphor for growth and resilience. This richness is uniquely human, shaped by our capacity for shared narratives.

Arguments Against the Necessity of Language

Critics might argue that consciousness can exist without language. Neuroscientist Christof Koch has explored the possibility of animal consciousness, citing examples like dolphins and elephants that display self-awareness and problem-solving skills. Preverbal infants, too, exhibit emotional and sensory awareness. These examples suggest that consciousness, in some form, may not depend on language.

A Human-Centric Rebuttal

While animals and infants may experience proto-consciousness, the richness of human consciousness - the ability to reflect, narrate, and share meaning - depends on language. Without it, awareness remains isolated, lacking the depth and connection that define the human experience.

The Ethical Implications of Consciousness

Viewing consciousness as a creative act places significant responsibility on us as individuals. If we create meaning through perception, what kind of realities are we building? Are we fostering connection and understanding, or perpetuating division? This perspective invites us to live more consciously, aware of the stories we tell ourselves and others.

Conscious Living and Flourishing

To live consciously is to engage deeply with the world. It means finding beauty in the ordinary, purpose in our actions, and connection with others. This requires reflection and intentionality: the act of choosing how to perceive and what to prioritise. Just as love demands care, effort, and commitment, so too does a conscious life.

Consciousness allows us to flourish by creating meaning and enriching our experiences. It enables us to turn mundane tasks into opportunities for growth, challenges into lessons, and relationships into profound connections. When we recognise consciousness as an active process, we begin to see its potential as a tool for personal and collective transformation.

The Stories We Create

Because consciousness is fundamentally tied to meaning-making, the stories we tell matter. These stories shape not only our individual realities but also the collective narratives of our cultures and societies. For instance, a tree might be a source of life and wisdom in one culture, while in another it might symbolise shelter or economic resourcefulness.

Narratives about progress, success, or identity shape how individuals and communities perceive their place in the world. This narrative power comes with ethical implications. If we consciously or unconsciously perpetuate harmful stories - about ourselves, others, or the environment - we risk creating realities that harm rather than heal. Recognising our role as storytellers allows us to take responsibility for the worlds we create.

Implications for the Human Experience

Consciousness as a Uniquely Human Opportunity

While other beings may experience proto-consciousness or alternative forms of awareness, human consciousness stands apart in its richness, depth, and relational power. It is our capacity for shared narratives, abstract thought, and collective meaning-making that makes us distinct.

This understanding invites us to stop comparing ourselves to animals or AI and instead embrace consciousness as a uniquely human opportunity. By focusing on the potential of human consciousness, we can deepen our relationships, enrich our cultures, and better understand ourselves.

Art, Science, and the Act of Creation

Consciousness enables us to create in ways that transform the world. Through art, we give form to emotions and ideas that transcend words. Through science, we explore the universe and expand our collective understanding. These acts of creation are not just expressions of consciousness - they are its fulfilment, the ultimate demonstration of our ability to turn perception into meaning.

Consciousness in an Unconscious World

In a fast-paced, distracted world, it is easy to live unconsciously, reacting to events rather than engaging with them. This is akin to liking without loving - engaging superficially rather than deeply. To live consciously is to resist this tendency, to pause and reflect, to ask: What story am I creating? What meaning am I bringing into the world?

Consciousness as a Celebration of Humanity

Consciousness, like love, is not a static thing but a dynamic process - a verb, not a noun. It is the act of transforming raw perception into meaning, story, and shared reality. Just as love takes relationships to greater depths, consciousness deepens our engagement with life, allowing us to connect with the world and each other in profound ways.

By viewing consciousness as a creative act, we shift the focus from defining it to celebrating it. The real question is not whether animals or AI are conscious, but how we, as humans, can make the most of our unique capacity for consciousness. Can we live more deeply, create more meaningfully, and share more fully? Like love, consciousness invites us to engage, to connect, and to transform. It is not just a phenomenon to understand but an opportunity to embrace - a celebration of what it means to be human.