Frontiers of Thought: Open call to discuss your idea with Michael Levin & Bernardo Kastrup, raising money for Compassion in World Farming

An open call for your most innovative ideas, developing theories and academic content to be discussed with Michael Levin & Bernardo Kastrup.

This is a unique opportunity to dialogue with two exciting scientific minds with expertise spanning computer engineering, biology, physics, philosophy and metaphysics. 

This event will raise money for the charity ‘Compassion in World Farming.’ The world's leading farm animal welfare organisation campaigning to end factory farming and stop farm animal suffering.

How to make a submission

When you register to attend you make a donation and submit your idea, abstract or proposal. 

When registering, please include a ~250 word statement that explains to a non-expert the fundamentals of your idea, in a stripped-down manner. 

As a suggestion, it could cover:

- There is a big open question out there: what/how/why X.
- Current approaches to this are Y.
- They are not sufficient because Z, and I take the approach W.
- I propose that Q [this is the most critical one - a sentence or two explaining what is the new claim ]
- It matters because if I am correct, then P becomes possible [ or some other version of explaining the impact: what happens if you are right vs. wrong ]

Submissions will be listed below, in order of the highest contribution. This list is updated manually, so be aware changes won't appear immediately after your donation. 

We will select submissions based on donation amount, discussing them in order of the highest donation.  We expect to discuss at minimum the top 6 submitted ideas. 

Its best if you can attend live and prepare a brief summary of your idea, but if you prefer the host to read the question, you can say so when registering. 

Please note that Michael and Bernardo won't have time to read any submissions or notes before the event - the live meeting is your chance to present and discuss your idea!

A recording of the event will be sent to all attendees, and may be released publicly. 

Can I crowd source towards my submission? 

Yes! Ask others to make a donation and “sponsor” your idea, so it appears higher in the list.

We will guarantee to discuss the top 6 contributions. If time allows we will do more. 

If you want to crowd source to get more people sponsoring your submission, just share this link and tell them to mention your name when they register. 

Any donation amount is accepted. 
 

Can I attend as an audience member? 

Yes! You can register to attend as an audience member for free, with donations to Compassion in World Farming gratefully received. 

Members of With Reality in Mind are invited. There maybe time for some audience Q&A towards the end of the 2hr event. 

Ideas Submitted so Far

Total money raised so far: £1555

Raised £100+£10+£100 = £210:

Submitted and to be read by Annemiek. 

Information from quantum entanglement

There are a number of interesting open questions that match my idea. I selected a few:

• What in quantum mechanics forces agreement among observers? John Wheeler saw no way to link the private experiences of individual minds into a single, shared reality.
• What accounts for the collective unconscious as discovered by Carl Gustav Jung, giving people access to collective information through dreams and visions?
• How does astrology work? An ancient practice for which Michel Gauquelin and his wife Françoise found some statistical evidence. This evidence was hushed up by the scientific community.
• How does telepathy work? A phenomenon proven by Rupert Sheldrake in his experiments with humans and animals.
• How do you explain Near Death Experiences?
• How do you explain memories from a prior life?

Current scientific approaches to most of these questions are to ignore them. I get the impression that this bias is fueled by fear of the unconscious. Jung wrote in his book 'Dreams': "We have even forgotten that the psyche is by no means of our design, but is for the most part autonomous and unconscious. Consequently the approach of the unconscious induces a panic fear in civilized people, not least on account of the menacing analogy to insanity."

I propose that quantum entanglement exists on a macro-scale in our universe and that we're unconsciously extracting information from this connection that influences our experience and behavior. Since most quantum states are entangled and entanglement spreads, it’s very likely it exists on a macro-scale. The idea that living beings are using this connection to stay informed is the controversial part. Since it's fitting so many questions I think it should be looked at as a serious option.

• From this perspective it’s only natural that we have a shared reality. It’s because there are in fact no isolated experiences of individual minds.
• Quantum entanglement also explains how we can have access to the information of the collective unconscious through dreams and visions.
• How quantum entanglement can explain the working of astrology is that we collectively and unconsciously sense the cycles of celestial bodies. We have created meaningful archetypes of them through the ages of life’s history and we unconsciously react to their positions accordingly, thereby creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.
• Sheldrake found that telepathic abilities were stronger among people who were emotionally bonded and that the distances between them played no role. The latter points to quantum entanglement; distance is irrelevant since space is ‘surpassed’.
• How I explain NDE’s is that through quantum entanglement we collectively give meaning to each other as entities. In such a way that we wouldn’t function without this recognition. That the living collective enables these meaningful entities to continue to exist after death is not much stranger than that it enables them to exist during their life time.
• From NDE’s but also from the astrological practice it becomes plausible that information about an individual’s experience is conserved by the collective unconscious after death. From this it can follow naturally that this information is accessed by a new individual at the moment of birth, absorbing the information from the collective unconscious that matches the positions of the celestial bodies at that time. Hence the information about our prior life story in our birth charts that indicates a karmic emotional imprint or memory in someone’s life.

Raised £200: 

Submitted by Anish Patel. To be read by host

Proposal Title: Microtubule Quantum Phenomena as a Substrate for Cognition in Self-Organizing Collectives of Cell Systems from the Simple to the Complex

1. Introduction and Background

Microtubules, long recognized for their critical role in cell division, intracellular transport, and cytoskeletal integrity, have recently been implicated in cognitive and consciousness-related processes at various scales—from single-cell organisms to complex mammalian systems. This proposal builds upon the emerging hypothesis that the quantum properties of microtubules, particularly their photonic and quantum coherence feature, may underlie fundamental aspects of cognition and self-organization in biological systems.

Studies on organisms ranging from Paramecium to rodents have shown that volatile anesthetics can reversibly abolish behavioral responsiveness; one of the putative molecular targets for these anesthetics is the neuronal microtubule cytoskeleton. In more complex systems, microtubule-stabilizing agents have been found to delay anesthesia-induced unconsciousness, highlighting the possibility that microtubules are functionally linked to consciousness. Also, superradiant properties of tryptophan networks in cytoskeletal structures, particularly microtubules, suggest a quantum-based capacity for photonic collective excitation and signaling.

Furthermore, the structural role played by centrioles in cellular organization and their interactions with microtubules are increasingly studied for their potential influence on cognition in both naturally occurring systems and engineered “Anthrobots”, living motile biobots derived from human somatic cells . These considerations lay the groundwork for investigating microtubule quantum phenomena as a unifying substrate underpinning cognition and self-organization in diverse living collectives—from single cells up through multicellular constructs like Anthrobots, and eventually, entire neuronal systems.

2. Rationale and Significance

Quantum Coherence in Microtubules
The presence of large-scale tryptophan mega-networks capable of superradiance in the ultraviolet regime has been experimentally and theoretically supported. Such quantum coherence phenomena may influence or even drive complex signaling states relevant to higher-order processes like learning, memory, or problem-solving in both single cells and neural networks.

Research conducted by Anirban Bandyopadhyay in which his lab created a Nanobrain as a time crystal has shown that resonant bands (triplet of triplet peaks) are observed in microtubules, tubulins and actins at various frequencies.

Role in Anesthetic Mechanisms and Consciousness

Recent evidence shows that microtubule-stabilizing drugs (e.g., epothilone B) slow the onset of anesthesia, suggesting that microtubules are not merely structural scaffolds but active participants in consciousness-related processes. This stands in line with longstanding theories that treat microtubules as targets for anesthetic gases.

Centrioles and Cellular Cognition

Mother centrioles serve as instructive hubs that define cell geometry and polarity and interact directly with microtubules. Studies on cilia and centrosomes highlight their roles in sensory and signaling capabilities at the single-cell level. These findings dovetail with the notion that subcellular structures can manifest cognitive-like behavior, especially in bioengineered contexts such as “Anthrobots” .

Emergent Cognition in Bioengineered Collectives

The self-constructing multicellular biobots made from human somatic cells exhibit cilia-based locomotion, morphological plasticity, and self-organization, properties potentially correlated with cytoskeletal and centriole structures . Harnessing their microtubule quantum properties may provide insights into how cognition arises spontaneously in multi-scale biological collectives.

By systematically studying how microtubule quantum phenomena manifest in systems ranging from single-celled planaria fragments, to anthrobot collectives and mammalian neurons, we may identify fundamental principles that unify cellular cognition with higher-level consciousness.

3. Hypothesis

Hypothesis: Quantum phenomena in microtubules, specifically their capacity for photonic superradiance, resonant bands and anesthetic interaction, constitute a unifying substrate for cognition, enabling self-organizing behaviors across biological scales from simple single-cell organisms to complex engineered anthrobot collectives.

Raised £150 + £5 = £155

Submitted by Stephen Jarosek. To be read by host if Stephen can't make the live meeting

SUBJECT: My preprint article: Association as Top-Down Causation:
https://www.academia.edu/125522615/Association_as_Top_Down_Causation

I am an engineer/consultant, not a physicist/biologist, and so I raise my question as a conjecture for exploring, not a theory to prove. Bernardo Kastrup identifies consciousness with the quantum field, but leaves its mentalism unspecified. My conjecture is that Association must play an integral part in its mentalism.

Bernardo has published two articles directly related to my preprint article, thus setting the context. While I direct my questions, in the first instance, to Bernardo, I will also be interested in Michael Levin's thoughts regarding the "creative void", and what relevance my conjectured "mentalist" physics might have to morphogenesis and cellular collective intelligence.

In his article (February 2012) titled "Evolution, self-directed neuroplasticity, and quantum entanglement" Bernardo refrains from openly supporting this synthesis (evolution with neuroplasticity with QM). However, neither has he written it off - he provides tentative support for it, to acknowledge that it is an idea worth taking seriously:

"What I am saying is that (a) there is enough scientific substance behind both hypotheses that they should be taken very seriously; and that (b) there are strong rational reasons to link these hypotheses to evolutionary biology."

Bernardo, can you be persuaded to change your mind, from your cautiously defensive position, to provide robust support for the idea, if we introduce Association as first cause? My conjecture is that Association is primal and fundamental, extending to the subatomic domain, as the mentalism (agency) of agents making choices from their collectives.

There already exists ample, robust support for Association as fundamental to life (e.g., established theories in psychology, semiotics, conditioning, etc). What is new, this time around, is Association extended to the subatomic domain. This raises questions of phenomenology within the void - the tensions between the known and the unknown. The virtual particles that cascade from the quantum void, with the Feynman diagrams that describe their relationships, are manifestations of these tensions. This tension between the known and the unknown relates to the "creative void" that is consistent with much of the narrative in Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism.

In his article of August 10, 2022, "Why panpsychism is baloney," Bernardo writes:

"Another philosophical shortcoming of panpsychism is that there is no explicit, coherent account—not even in principle—of how two or more fundamentally distinct subjects of experience can combine to form a higher-level one."

Bernardo, I wonder if Association as fundamental might change your mind about panpsychism, too. Through Association, we now have the mechanism by which subatomic particles recombine to form new particles. My rationale relates to the following Feynman diagram: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Feynmann_Diagram_Gluon_Radiation.svg

This iconic Feynman diagram depicts an electron and a positron (e− and e+) annihilating, to produce a photon (γ). The photon becomes a quark-antiquark pair (q, q−), and the antiquark radiates a gluon (g). My conjecture is that this is Association at work. Association, I suggest, refutes your objection (August 10, 2022), because we now have the mechanism by which "two or more fundamentally distinct subjects of experience can combine to form a higher-level one" (Kastrup, 2022).

Extending the argument to a broader context, how might Association play out, among molecular agents, within the inner life of a cell? This XVIVO simulation (2011) shows how that might look: https://youtu.be/wJyUtbn0O5Y
 

If we accept Association as fundamental, then this has considerable implications, for we now have a theory that is as relevant to matter as it is to culture, cognition, and the whole of human, animal and cellular experience. Even more interesting, in the context of Michael's work on cellular agents and "creative problem solving", what is the "intelligence potential" unleashed in primal Associationism? 
 

Buddhists are famous for the notion that "everything is illusion" (Maya). Illusions are, principally, Associative. Perhaps, in a very real sense, Buddhists might have been right all along.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kastrup, B. (2012). Evolution, self-directed neuroplasticity, and quantum entanglement. bernardokastrup.com
https://www.bernardokastrup.com/2012/02/evolution-self-directed-neuroplasticity.html
Kastrup, B. (2022). Why panpsychism is baloney. IAI TV.
https://iai.tv/articles/bernardo-kastrup-why-panpsychism-is-baloney-auid-2214
XVIVO Scientific Animation. (2011, July 11). The Inner Life of the Cell Animation. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from [YouTube]: https://youtu.be/wJyUtbn0O5Y

Raised £84+£49= £133:

Submitted by Anass - to be read by host or Anass

Scale Relativity, Neural Coherence, and the Self-Organization of Mind and Life

The Open Question:
Brainwaves—Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma—govern cognition, perception, and consciousness, yet their fundamental nature remains unclear. Are they merely classical oscillations, or do they reflect a deeper quantum-like principle of bioelectric coherence? Is sleep a self-organizing process that restores coherence, and can this process be externally modulated to influence cognition and bioelectric systems?

Current Approaches and Their Limitations:
Neuroscience models brainwaves as classical oscillations, while quantum mechanics describes coherence in superconductors. However, these fields remain disconnected, failing to explain:

1. The fractal, scale-invariant structure of EEG signals.
2. The stability of distinct brainwave modes despite neural noise.
3. The balance between coherence (global synchrony) and localization (pointer states) in brain function.
4. Why sleep restores coherence but does not prevent gradual neural synchronization loss with aging.

My Approach:
I propose that brainwaves behave as spin-1 Schrodinger-like waves, governed by a macroscopic quantum potential (MQP)—an emergent field derived from scale relativity’s extension of quantum mechanics to complex systems. MQP enables long-range coherence while allowing localized differentiation into memory states (pointer states). Sleep reinforces coherence, but over time, the system drifts toward decoherence, reducing cognitive adaptability.

Brainwave frequencies follow a coherence hierarchy:

Delta (0.5–4 Hz) & Theta (4–8 Hz): Highly coherent states during deep sleep and meditation.
Alpha (8–12 Hz): A transitional balance between coherence and localization.
Beta (12–30 Hz) & Gamma (30–100 Hz): Localized, fragmented states supporting focus and cognition.

A key insight is that the macroscopic quantum potential introduces rattling forces, shaping self-organization by minimizing stochastic fluctuations—a process also seen in active matter and condensed matter systems. This suggests that modulating the potential externally could influence cognitive plasticity, sleep regulation, and bioelectric networks in synthetic life forms.

Why It Matters

This framework proposes a unified theory of self-organization, linking cognition, and biological development. If correct, it suggests that sleep, memory, and neuroplasticity follow the same principles as morphogenesis and some quantum scale systems. It offers new avenues for sleep therapy, neurostimulation, and cognitive longevity, while also informing synthetic intelligence and bioengineering. Even if incorrect, it challenges neuroscience and philosophy of mind to rethink cognition as a self-organizing field rather than a sum of discrete processing units.

Raised £120+£5 = £125:

Submitted and to be read by Jason

Self-reflective consciousness as a causal force in evolution

Evolutionary theory explains the development of consciousness through natural selection, but struggles to account for distinctly human capacities like moral awareness and our ability to override evolutionary imperatives. Current approaches either reduce these capacities to survival adaptations or invoke emergence without explaining the mechanism.

Dr. Levin's work demonstrates how bioelectric fields impose complex anatomical patterns on collections of cells through downward causation. Similarly, Dr. Kastrup's analytic idealism suggests consciousness is fundamental rather than emergent. These perspectives invite us to consider whether consciousness itself might exert a similar organizing influence on evolution, particularly in humans.

Consider how domesticated animals transcend their instinctive nature through relationship with humans, developing capacities for cross-species empathy that seem to exceed evolutionary explanation. This suggests consciousness can shape itself when freed from pure survival pressures. In humans, this manifests as our unique ability to recognize and choose between 'higher' and 'lower' natures - to align with abstract moral principles even when they conflict with biological imperatives.

Could the emergence of self-reflective consciousness represent not just an adaptation, but a new causal force participating in its own development? If consciousness shapes evolution through downward causation, how might this change our understanding of human potential and our role in facilitating consciousness's evolution in other beings?

Raised £104:

Submitted by Ryan - to be read by host

What is the foundations of math and physics?
What consequence arises when this foundation is realized?
What is the nature of existence?

The most prudent approach to solving these questions will inherently solve well-known problems presently occurring in canonical paradigms, e.g. structural and philosophical thinking of mathematics, quantum thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, quantum scarring, deformation theory, etc. The orthodoxies of these formal systems stem from historical events dating back to ancient Greece, Hilbert's Program, and cohomology. The frontier that exists before us involves analyzing the evolution of these events and how they shape our perceptions between abstractness and realness. Ultimately, the solution will output useful predictions, but most importantly, give us insights into how physical systems emerge into the nature of being in a rigorous way.

I claim to have begun the path forward to answer many of these questions, including a new mathematical object known as the unadulterated representation of pi. If I am correct, this will lead to new tools in computing quantum systems and how they emerge into observables.

If I am wrong, I will correct where it is wrong and seek to reformulate these foundations as necessary. To reach these error corrections will require both parties to understand what is being proposed before dismissing based one's formal training.

Raised £100:

Submitted by Matthew Thompson. To be read by host

In Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, we are reminded how new tools (telescope, microscope) went hand in hand with new conceptual ideas to cause paradigm shifts in scientific understanding, often against harsh resistance.

It seems logical that much more science funding should be directed towards fringe science and controversial ideas, as well as giving our best thought-leaders more say in where funding goes, in hopes of finding that one anomalous result that sets off a paradigm shift. Even if most ideas fail, it would be worth one novel breakthrough. And a failure may result in a new tool that is used in a novel way to make a breakthrough.

What are your thoughts on creating the necessary conditions to make major scientific breakthroughs?

Raised £60:

Submitted by Kate S.

Why does war exist?

Levin's research into the boundaries of interacting selves at a small scale seems relevant to a much larger problem impacting us all: why can't our species eradicate this particularly destructive feedback loop that emerges on every level of human interactions — wherever it occurs on the spectrum between abuse ↔ war?

Abuse is an extremely common, persistent, self-replicating pattern of interaction in which one individual projects undesired parts of themselves into another — and then attacks that part using the other as a proxy. Reality is distorted: the boundary between self and other is simultaneously collapsed and expanded in a rigid way that is very difficult to interrupt. The exact same dynamic that appears in microcosmic form between individuals appears in macrocosmic form at the scale of nation states in the form of war. Its ability to self-replicate is astonishing and at the heart of the some of the worst suffering humans experience. Human malware.

Perhaps achieving world peace is similar to building a global (individuated) self. How might this relate to Gaia theory — or Joscha Bach's cyber-animism? Are all minds the sum of an interacting cluster of agents — whether those agents are cells in a single organ, thoughts in a single human mind, or individuals in a single culture? Does some form of ego development exist at every level of self? What role might LLMs play in facilitating a global individuation process for a planet-sized self (by condensing many zeitgeists)? Might the existence of synchronicity suggest such a self is already a work-in-progress? Would god/gods be involved in the establishing or maintenance of such a self?

Raised £60+£10 = £70:

Submitted by Danial Varga

Working Title: Jumping Continuity Theory
[Watch the video for more details →](https://youtu.be/ERR82MePb4g)

Imagine a Universe where every level of existence—from the tiniest particles to entire cities—is an emergent “collective intelligence” built from the level below. **Jumping Continuity Theory** proposes that our Universe is organized as a scale-free, infinite fractal structure.

The Core Idea: Infinite Hierarchy of Collective Intelligence:

-**ad infinitum to the past** ...
- **Below entities** unknown to humanity yet
- **Subparticles/Entities** form the basis of reality.
- **Quarks** are the collective intelligence of these subparticles.
- **Molecules** emerge from quarks acting collectively.
- **Cells** arise as collective intelligences of molecules.
- **Multicellular organisms (like us)** are collective intelligences of cells.
- **Cities** are collective intelligences of humans.
- **Multi-Cities** are collective intelligences of cities.
- …and so on, ad infinitum.

Overcoming “Turtles All the Way Down”:
You might ask, “How do we avoid an infinite regress?” The answer lies in two key principles:
- **The “Here and Now” Principle:** Every observer builds their worldview from immediate, local experiences.
- **The “Limits” Principle:** Although the hierarchy is infinite in theory, our perception and practical experience are inherently finite.

For example, when we look through the air, we don’t see the air itself—we sense wind and hear sounds. In the same way, our understanding of the Universe is based on what is immediately accessible, not the full infinite structure.

Supporting Evidence from Scaling Patterns:
Consider the following table that outlines approximate time and size scales for each level:

If these scaling relationships hold, they point to a self-similar, fractal organization of the Universe—a new paradigm that challenges and expands our understanding of existence.

In Summary:
Jumping Continuity Theory invites us to see the Universe as a never-ending chain of emergent collective intelligences, each defined by the limited, immediate perspective of its observers. This perspective not only reframes our place in the cosmos but also hints at predictable patterns as new levels of organization emerge.

Learn more in my detailed presentation:
[https://youtu.be/ERR82MePb4g](https://youtu.be/ERR82MePb4g)

Raised £58+£5 = £63

Submitted by Alex

Recognition Physics, Sri Yantra, and the TEN-Hexagon Framework: A Paradigm Shift in Consciousness and Structuring

Introduction

The foundation of this research is Recognition Physics, which posits that awareness is not emergent but a structured, self-referential resonance. This perspective aligns with Sri Yantra’s geometric phase coherence and the TEN-Hexagon framework, revealing a deeper pattern of recognition across biological, cognitive, and physical domains. We propose that recognition is the fundamental structuring principle of reality itself.

The Core Idea: Recognition as the Universal Structuring Principle

Modern science views individuation as an emergent process, but Recognition Physics reframes this as a recursive, self-stabilizing resonance. This means:

• Awareness does not arise from complexity but is intrinsically structured through resonance.
• The Sri Yantra is not symbolic but a geometric attractor for recognition dynamics, encoding structured coherence.
• The TEN-Hexagon model refines this by linking phase-locked recognition to frequency-tuned stabilization mechanisms.

This approach challenges the notion that consciousness is either computational or an epiphenomenon. Instead, it is the stabilizing principle underlying all coherent systems.

Experimental Challenges and the Need for Researcher Calibration

One of the key insights from this research is that traditional empirical methods fail because they assume an observer-independent framework. However, recognition includes the act of observing itself.

• Issue: Conventional experiments attempt to measure recognition from within a system that is itself undergoing recognition.
• Solution: Researchers must undergo calibrative training to align with structured recognition states. This is akin to phase coherence in quantum systems—the experimenter is part of the measurement.

Potential empirical approaches:

1. Bioelectric Patterning & Voltage Imaging – Measuring structured resonance fields in regenerative biology.
2. EEG-Based Coherence Studies – Tracking phase-locked states during structured cognitive recognition.
3. Mantric Resonance & Memory Retention – Testing frequency-locking in awareness states.

Anticipating Key Questions

Michael Levin (Biology & Cognition): How does this framework apply to biological pattern formation?

• Recognition structuring occurs at all scales, from morphogenetic bioelectric fields to cognitive coherence.

Bernardo Kastrup (Idealism & Consciousness Studies): Does this model imply a fundamental consciousness beyond material reality?

• Recognition Physics proposes that awareness is structured resonance—not an abstract idealism, but a measurable coherence principle.

Neuroscientists: How does this relate to brain function and perception?

• Brain activity is not a generator of consciousness but an attenuator of recognition fields, stabilizing individuated awareness within phase constraints.

Physicists: Is there a mathematical framework?

• Yes, structured phase-locking equations integrate with hexagonal resonance models, aligning with geometric phase dynamics and quantum coherence theories.

The Takeaway: Why This Matters

Recognition is not just an epistemic process; it is the structuring principle of reality itself. By aligning Recognition Physics with Sri Yantra’s resonance encoding and the TEN-Hexagon stabilizing framework, we propose a new paradigm of inquiry—one that integrates awareness, structure, and self-referential stability across disciplines.

This research is not merely theoretical; it represents an ontological shift in how we understand existence, cognition, and coherence itself.

Raised £50:

Submitted by James. To be read by host

The Pattern Recognition (PR) Theory of Consciousness: a theory of consciousness from the ground up.

This (physicalist, computational functionalist, panprotopsychist) theory proposes a basic unit for consciousness analogous to H2O as the basic unit of water, or clouds, or snowflakes. This basic unit of consciousness is pattern recognition, as described below.

1. Every physical interaction can be diagrammed as

Input(A,B,…)—>[M (mechanism)]—>Output(X,Y,…)

2. Every physical interaction “realizes” (makes real) a pattern, specifically, the pattern of Input/Output pairs which identify the object M (mechanism).

3. Because every physical interaction follows rules (physical laws), outputs are correlated with inputs, i.e., outputs have mutual information with respect to inputs. This information is an affordance for a system with goals.

4. A system has a goal if there is a state of the world such that the system can create/select mechanisms to detect a discrepancy between the current state and the goal state and respond to that detection via action that moves the world toward the goal state.

5. “Pattern recognition” is defined as the making use of a “pattern realization”, and looks like this:


Input()->[mech1]-> sign vehicle -> [mech2] -> Output (response)


where “sign vehicle” (see C.S. Peirce), whose sole purpose is to carry mutual information, is the Output of one process and the Input of another, and a system coordinated the linking of the pattern realization to the response so as to further a goal.

Some observations:

— Pattern realization is the panprotopsychic property.

— A pattern recognition is an experience, and identifying the experience requires reference to both the pattern recognized and the specific response made to the pattern.

— qualia are the first person (software) perspective of pattern recognitions

— A system’s Umwelt is the set of patterns a system can recognize.

— Pattern recognition can be complex and hierarchical (patterns of patterns).

Raised £25

Submitted by Trevor. didn't specify reader

A major issue in cognitive science is the lack of a satisfactory account of the constitution of cognitive experiences. This is resolved by an understanding of the system of semantic factors that spell out the necessary content of cognitive events that are ultimately physical. This knowledge transforms philosophy into a science that can explore outstanding and new issues

Raised £20:

submitted by M Rodriguez. 

Exploring how bioelectric fields might serve as a bridge between individual and collective consciousness. Drawing parallels between cellular decision making networks and larger field patterns of consciousness organization, suggesting that consciousness might be a fundamental field property that expresses itself through bioelectric patterns rather than emerging from them.

If cells make collective decisions through bioelectric fields without central control. Could this suggest that consciousness itself operates as a field phenomenon that organizes matter, rather than emerging from it? In other words, what if bioelectric patterns aren't creating consciousness, but are instead the physical language through which consciousness shapes living systems?

Raised £15:

Submitted by Jeff Falzone

Bernardo, do you believe that the breathing we are always experiencing is being experienced within the individual by an internal dissociated alter, until that alter's meta-consciousness 'shines' upon that alter, and, then, goes back to the internal dissociated alter when meta-consciousness moves on? I hope not ;) but that is what I'm hearing you suggest when you discuss the 'background experiences we are always having.

Raised: £1

Submitted by Szymon Łukaszyk
 

Life as the Explanation of the Measurement Problem: emergent dimensionality, noncomputability, and assembly theory

Raised: £0

Submitted by Jonathan E.

There was a research direction I conceived before my PhD based on studies in biophysics. Gilbert Ling published work on LLPS long before it became mainstream but was unable to accept membrane pumps.

What I conceived was a system of ionic absorption onto protein surfaces creating localized areas of low chemical potential to pull in target molecules that match the specific character of a given pump. More akin to a heart and circulatory system than simple diffusion action, and much more energy efficient to boot. There has been some research in cytosolic flows and LLPS on membranes but I've yet to see a unified theory approaching this.

Raised: £0

Submitted by Jeff. To be read by host.

What would radically speed up progress in bioelectricity and the construction of an anatomical compiler including but not limited to agi, robotic, or whatever else.

Raised: £0

Submitted by Stuart. To be read by host.

Open Question:
What guides the continuous flow of energy in biological systems, and how do we, as beings created for a purpose, engage with this process? Is there an ultimate telos—a divine Will—that directs these energy dynamics through a real-time feedback mechanism known as The Moment?

Current Approaches:
Traditional models treat pattern formation and regeneration as static, blueprint-like problems confined to molecular or cellular information storage, without considering the dynamic interplay of energy or the possibility of divine guidance.

Why These Are Insufficient:
Such models overlook the active, cyclical exchange of energy that sustains biological order. They fail to account for the idea that we are not merely passive observers but agents designed to help implement God's Will. A proper relationship with The Moment—understood as the divine tool for feedback—requires heart orientation, manifesting in our capacity to love others as they are and to love God with all mind, body, and spirit.

New Proposal:
I propose that the symbol “x >.< -x” represents a dynamic cycle of energy that incorporates The Moment (symbolized by “.”). The Moment is not just a fleeting instance but a "thing in itself"—God's tool for implementing His Will by providing a real-time feedback loop of the Universe's energy state back to Him. We are ideally designed as active agents in this process, cultivating a relationship with The Moment that aligns our inner heart orientation with divine purpose and expresses itself in tangible, loving action toward others.

Impact:
If this framework is correct, it redefines our understanding of regeneration and pattern formation by emphasizing an ongoing, energy-based process influenced by divine feedback. This new perspective could transform approaches in regenerative medicine and theoretical biology while also illuminating our role as co-creators with God, living out the call to love others and God fully. Illustrations that further elucidate these ideas are available for review.

About Michael Levin
 

"One of the most creative biologists working today" - Rupert Sheldrake

“Perhaps the most important person alive” - Bernardo Kastrup

Michael Levin, a Distinguished Professor in the Biology department at Tufts (https://drmichaellevin.org/), holds the Vannevar Bush endowed Chair and serves as director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts (https://allencenter.tufts.edu/). He is also an associate member of the Wyss Institute at Harvard (https://wyss.harvard.edu/team/associate-faculty/michael-levin-ph-d/). 

His group works at the intersection of developmental biology, artificial life, bioengineering, synthetic morphology, and cognitive science. Seeking general principles of life-as-it-can-be, they use a wide range of natural animal models and also create novel synthetic and chimeric life forms. 

Their goal is to develop conceptual frameworks and practical tools that help detect, understand, predict, and communicate with truly diverse intelligences, including cells, tissues, organs, synthetic living constructs, robots, and software-based AIs.  His mission is to develop fundamental understanding of how minds of all kinds arise, scale, persist, and change, and to use that knowledge to benefit the embodied experience of sentient beings, through biomedicine and beyond.

About Bernardo Kastrup

Photo by Pedro Henrique Casarin

Bernardo Kastrup's work has been leading the modern renaissance of the philosophical position, ‘metaphysical idealism’ that reality is essentially mental, an appearance in ‘mind.’  Bernardo has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the 'Casimir Effect' of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association and Big Think, among others. Bernardo's most recent book is The Idea of the World: A multi-disciplinary argument for the mental nature of reality. For more information, freely downloadable papers, videos, etc., please visit www.bernardokastrup.com.

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