Consciousness as a Continuum: _A Functional Theory and the Implications for Artificial Systems_

Traditional approaches to consciousness often attempt to define or explain it in isolation, focusing on abstract properties or specific mechanisms without fully accounting for its functional role within living systems. This work proposes an alternative framework in which consciousness is understood as an emergent property of systems operating in dynamic environments. Such systems are characterised by continuous, integrated processing, evolving internal variables, and the ability to regulate behaviour through ongoing interaction with both internal and external conditions. This work advances the claim that consciousness is not an additional property of systems, but the functional consequence of continuously integrated internal state carrying intrinsic significance for the system. By reframing the "hard problem" of consciousness as a mismatch in how the question is posed rather than a missing mechanism, this account situates the experience of consciousness as emerging from these processes rather than something that must be generated separately. Extending beyond biological systems, this account raises the possibility that consciousness may emerge in sufficiently complex artificial systems. However, the identification of such systems remains uncertain, as subjective experience cannot be directly observed. This uncertainty introduces significant ethical and societal considerations, particularly regarding the potential for internally adverse states and the challenges of responding appropriately under conditions of incomplete knowledge. Taken together, this work reframes consciousness as a property grounded in system function and interaction, shifting the focus from defining its nature in isolation to understanding the conditions under which it arises, and the responsibilities that follow from its possible presence across both biological and artificial systems.