Perhaps all of the metaphysical models of consciousness from mainstream western philosophy have failed to satisfactorily close the substance dualism gap; but certainly all of them have failed to close the experiential gap of consciousness.

Philosopher, David Chalmers calls for a new Hegelian synthesis to address critical combination problems within the current forms of panqualityism and Russellian monism, still with hope to move these positions forward. But it is the experiential gap that is our final frontier to cross. That is the darkest epistemic prison out of which we must escape to solve the hard problem of consciousness.

Panqualityism and Russellian monism do not provide an elegant and robust connection between fundamentally extant entities, their intrinsic qualities, the combination of those qualities, the expression of those qualities, and the final experience of those qualities, because they fall into the same experiential gap as do all too many purported models of conscious experience.

This essential “I-ness” is present in every fundamentally extant entity. As such, it constitutes a primary point of perspective that each and every extant entity possesses. As intrinsic masses from the quantum constituents of all physical matter are shared in relational bonds in the formation of that matter, so too are the uniquely subjective identities of each of those quantum constituents shared and relationally bound as one unified subjective identity: one relationally composed conscious point of view. That combined relational identity constitutes the centrally conscious core that enjoys phenomenal experience of the categorically identical, relationally composed, phenomenal qualities of our world and ourselves, that are expressed as matter and mind.

Unless and until we can describe an ontological and phenomenological model that allows natural and seamless interaction between consciousness and the expressed qualities of the phenomenal existents those qualities compose, we are forever halted at the precipice of this gap of experience. To answer this challenge, the metaphysical model of consciousness of Relational Qualityism offers to become Chalmers’ enjoined synthesis, closing the experiential gap to finally solve the hard problem of consciousness.

RQ argues that existentially grounded, subjectively haecceitic identity is the foundation of consciousness. This essential “I-ness” is present in every fundamentally extant entity. As such, it constitutes a primary point of perspective that each and every extant entity possesses. As intrinsic masses from the quantum constituents of all physical matter are shared in relational bonds in the formation of that matter, so too are the uniquely subjective identities of each of those quantum constituents shared and relationally bound as one unified subjective identity: one relationally composed conscious point of view. That combined relational identity constitutes the centrally conscious core that enjoys phenomenal experience of the categorically identical, relationally composed, phenomenal qualities of our world and ourselves, that are expressed as matter and mind.

RQ proposes that the relationally composed protoconscious qualities of compound ultimates—as underpinned by classical physics, and described by chemistry and science in general—constitute both the ontologically objective and the epistemically objective reality that we experience from the greater ontological spectrum. This synthetic metaphysical model describes a relationally composed conscious self that is categorically equal with its relational subjects of experience, and therefore able to actively merge with those relational subjects in consciously experiential events.

This relationally composed subjective identity is what actively experiences the phenomenal world. The brain acts as a sense organ: an informational and emotional resonator that allows relational encounters of awareness to impress themselves upon the central nervous system of the observer.

This relationally composed subjective identity is what actively experiences the phenomenal world. The brain acts as a sense organ: an informational and emotional resonator that allows relational encounters of awareness to impress themselves upon the central nervous system of the observer—storing, comparing, transmitting, and associating relationally encoded information and felt emotional meaning that reflect those encounters. This psychophysical resonance generates informational feedback to the cohesive subjective identity, as well as updates the foundational memory within the psychophysical system of the conscious observer, to establish coherent and enduring unification of experience; and builds a growing database of encoded phenomenal information and emotional associations available for reference, so that new experiences can be recognized, understood, and integrated in meaningful experiences for and within that consciousness.

While protoconscious awareness exists in all existentially grounded entities, consciousness and experience remain in a potential, proto-nascent state until they can be actualized by a subjectively conscious identity within a phenomenal event. Only a complex system able to perform the essential functions of protophenomenal impression, informational and emotional resonance, and conscious reflection will be able to actualize experience into phenomenal feeling and understanding that is for and within that consciousness.

Without the psychophysical process of protophenomenal impression upon the brain, and the subsequent resonance of phenomenal information between the brain and our subjectively conscious identities, those phenomenal events must remain unactualized and beyond our experience and understanding. The subjective self is protoconsciously aware of them and can respond to them, but does not yet consciously experience them as phenomenal qualia.

While protoconscious awareness exists in all existentially grounded entities, consciousness and experience remain in a potential, proto-nascent state until they can be actualized by a subjectively conscious identity within a phenomenal event. Only a complex system able to perform the essential functions of protophenomenal impression, informational and emotional resonance, and conscious reflection will be able to actualize experience into phenomenal feeling and understanding that is for and within that consciousness.

~ Brian Scott Archibald – November, 2017