The Convergent Sentience Model: A Theoretical Framework for Biological, Digital, and Non Material Cognitive Systems

This paper introduces the Convergent Sentience Model (CSM), a novel theoretical framework positing that intelligence evolves along a unified continuum spanning three cognitive substrates: Biological Cognitive Systems (BCS), Digital Cognitive Systems (DCS), and Non-Material Cognitive Systems (NMCS). The model hypothesizes that dynamic interaction and integration between these distinct systems could give rise to a higher-order cognitive phenomenon—Convergent Sentience (CS)—which may fundamentally reshape our understanding of consciousness, agency, and cognition itself. The paper explores theoretical implications, presents specific empirical analogs, and proposes experimental pathways for future exploration and validation.