Reflexivity gradient-Consciousness knowing itself.

The real achievement of evolution is not merely phenomenal consciousness but consciousness that recognizes itself—a non-conceptual, nondual awareness whose core property is non-representational reflexivity. This review examines reflexivity from the perspective of consciousness itself, proposing that different types of reflexivity in current theories form a gradation of relational distances between consciousness as knower and consciousness as known. This spectrum ranges from fully representational and dual forms, through various qualified monisms, to fully non-representational and nondual reflexivity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Some consider phenomenal consciousness to be the great achievement of the evolution of life on earth, but the real achievement is much more than mere phenomenality. The real achievement is that consciousness has woken up within us and has recognized itself, that within us humans, consciousness knows that it is conscious. This short review explores the reflexivity of consciousness from the perspective of consciousness itself-a non-conceptual nondual awareness, whose main property is its non-representational reflexivity. In light of this nondual reflexivity, different types of reflexivity proposed by current theories can be seen as a gradation of relational or transitive distances between consciousness as the knower and consciousness as the known, from fully representational and dual, through various forms of qualified monism, to fully non-representational and nondual.