The Knower Centred Model of Consciousness (KCM): A Unified Subject-First Theory

The Knower Centred Model of Consciousness (KCM) advances a subject-first framework in which the presence of a knower is treated as the necessary condition for experience. Contemporary theories explain the integration, accessibility, and organization of information, yet leave unresolved a foundational question: for whom does any process or content appear? KCM addresses this gap by distinguishing the existence of subjectivity from the structure of experience. The model formalizes a minimal architecture through the triadic relation of Knower, Knowing, and Known (K–N–C), and introduces a typed ontology separating claims about presence, relational awareness, and experiential content. Within this framework, neural and informational processes are interpreted as modulating the organization of experience rather than generating subjectivity. KCM further establishes a finite set of axioms and the Modulation Principle, and derives divergent predictions concerning artificial systems, minimal-content states, and the dissociation between reportability and awareness. This paper presents the unified formulation of KCM by integrating its conceptual framework, typed ontology, and empirical predictions into a single subject-first theory of consciousness.