Time-consciousness in computational phenomenology: a temporal analysis of active inference
Neuroscience of Consciousness January 1, 2023 Juan Diego Bogotá, Z. Djebbara
Time is central to both science and daily life, yet computational models of consciousness usually treat time as a sequence, not a continuous flow. This creates a problem for computational phenomenology, which combines phenomenology with computational modeling. By analyzing the active inference framework's temporal structure, the authors show that an integrated continuity of time can be achieved by merging Husserlian temporality with sequential time. A Markov blanket of the present moment integrates past and future moments of both subjective temporality and objective time asynchronously. The authors conclude that active inference qualifies as a computational model for phenomenological investigations regarding time.