Life, Thought, Consciousness: From Binary Distinction to Subjectivity

This paper argues that binary distinction - presence versus absence - is the fundamental principle underlying all structures and interactions in reality. Life arises as matter’s self-application of this distinction, sustaining itself by maintaining difference. The evolution of the nervous system and brain reflects progressive "probing" of the environment through acts of is\not recognition. Consciousness emerges when this principle is applied reflexively, producing subjectivity through stable internal patterns and coordinated private qualia. Qualia are not mere by-products of experience but elementary acts of self-demarcation, establishing the experiencing subject. This framework connects fundamental physical principles with the emergence of complex, self-aware systems.