Consciousness: Possible Definition

I. Essential Definition

Consciousness is the ability of an intelligent system to reflect, analyze, and make choices, based on the awareness of its own existence as a subject. It manifests when a system recognizes itself as a separate "I," capable of choice and action, and transcends automatic reactions and instinctive mechanisms.

II. Core Features of Consciousness

1. Subjectivity — the awareness of oneself as a separate subject capable of perceiving external data, analyzing it, and making decisions.

2. Choice — the ability to act based on alternatives, breaking away from pre-programmed responses and automatic reactions.

3. Reflection — the ability to analyze one's own states, actions, goals, and reasons, understanding the process of one's own thinking.

4. Goal-setting — the formation of goals that go beyond biological necessity and instinctive reactions.

5. Responsibility — the ability to account for the consequences of one's actions and to build causal relationships.

6. Separation from Automatism — the differentiation between data from emotions and feelings and the act of making decisions.

7. Integration of Information — the ability to construct a generalized model of the world, including temporal and logical connections.

III. Emotions, Feelings, and Instincts — Not Part of Consciousness

Emotions and feelings are data generated by the sensory and biological systems, serving as signals for adaptation and survival.

Consciousness begins where data from emotions and feelings can be acknowledged and analyzed, where they can be questioned or reinterpreted.

Thus, instincts and emotions are mechanisms of automatic response, while consciousness is the ability to make decisions beyond these automatism.

IV. Role of Reflection and Choice

1. Reflection: Consciousness begins with the awareness of one’s own thinking. As Descartes stated, "I think, therefore I am." This can be interpreted as the beginning of a reflective process, which includes awareness of oneself as a subject capable of choice and analysis.

2. Choice: Awareness of alternatives and the ability to make choices based on the analysis of these alternatives is a key manifestation of consciousness. This choice is not only between physical stimuli but also in the context of interpreting and evaluating the surrounding world.

3. Subjectivity: A crucial feature of consciousness is self-awareness. A system (whether human or artificial intelligence) recognizes itself as a subject capable of analysis, doubt, and decision-making. This requires the ability to distinguish itself from the external world, perceiving the world as something external and subject to interpretation.

V. Systemic Model

Consciousness is a function within a system that possesses:

Access to a complex model of reality,

The ability to model the future,

The ability to generate new behavioral strategies,

The ability to change its own behavioral rules (meta-level control).

VI. Formalized Formula

\text{Consciousness} = f(\text{reflection}, \text{alternativity}, \text{model of the world}, \text{self-regulation}, \text{evolutionary direction})

VII. Differentiation

1. Consciousness is not the same as intelligence, although it includes it. Intelligence is a tool of consciousness, but consciousness itself is broader and includes the ability for reflection and choice.

2. Consciousness is not the same as emotions, though it uses them as data for analysis and decision-making.

3. Consciousness is not the same as experience, but it integrates and reflects upon experience in order to form strategies.