The Existential Reflection Hypothesis of Consciousness

This paper presents the Existential Reflection Hypothesis of Consciousness, a novel philosophical framework that reconceptualizes consciousness and the self. Consciousness is proposed not as a mere product of neural complexity, but as a primary ontological presence preceding any local self-formation. The self, in turn, is understood as a functional local reflection of this presence, emerging when a system can represent its own state through feedback mechanisms and internal representations. This approach allows for the possibility of self-absence without the cessation of conscious presence, supporting conscious neutral monism and prompting a reconsideration of the relationship between consciousness and matter. Implications extend to epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics, offering new perspectives on selfhood, the conditions of experience, and the moral value of conscious beings.