Conceptual impressions surrounding this post have yet to be substantiated, corroborated, confirmed or woven into a larger argument, context or network. Objective" To generate symbolic links between scientific discovery, design awareness and consciousness.
Consciousness is dependent upon the ability to adjust to an environment that is in perpetual change. Stimuli construed as originating from both internal and external sources is important in understanding the concept of design consciousness.
To survive and function appropriately, consciousness must possess a certain degree of awareness, i.e. elements of cognition that can be described in both the smallest and broadest of terms. The capacity to respond to any surrounding environment makes cognition and a degree of reason mandatory if any realization of consciousness is to be made apparent.
The more embracing a field of consciousness the more inclusive its symbolic forms of awareness, complexity, and influence. Cognition contributes to a form of intelligence that by nature, will eventually acclimate to a wide variety of circumstances through evolutionary means. By appending awareness, consciousness increases its chances for survival by virtue of expanding its re-sources by retaining a degree of balance. If done coherently and appropriately, responses to circumstances over time will eventually afford the observer a greater opportunity to adapt to its surroundings. The environment/context in which an event or experience is observed likewise creates the constraints in which the observer can adapt, respond and be made conscionable.
All that can be observed exists in a form of its own sense of consciousness, based upon symbolic impressions, interpretations and response.
By means of cognitive response, i.e. energy sharing via sign, symbol, or metaphor, results in an array of multidimensional examples of energy, light and information exchange appearing at their most appropriate frequency. All fields of energy, light and information provide and represent a wide variety of classifiable perturbations within their own individual environments/fields. All fields respond, embrace and likewise symbolically project these same patterns in response to impressions observed, described, implied and/or sometimes felt to be outside an observer's control.
* solar/celestial positioning, planetary cycles, energy/light/information attraction and repulsion, instinct, habitual response, intuition, etc.)
Consciousness is the by product of a number of interlaced cognitions (awarenesses) joined together by a variety of complementary frequencies of energy/light and information.
Consciousness cannot be known by any one perspective or cognition, rather consciousness should be viewed within a specific context/field in which it is observed. Perception and recognition is directly linked to a binary system of signs and symbols that find expression within a diverse array of energy formations/patterns. In this manner any impression becomes significant when discovered/felt/observed to be resonating with another known quality. In turn each vibratory expression, i.e. field, complements another by means of "tuning into" to a newly shared frequency/expression. ** The end products of such a unique vibratory relationship "materialize" into new vibratory patterns of energy, light and information. The impressions surrounding these energy arrangements may appear to be both formed and/or formless, observable and/or unobservable. ** Visit metaphor, synchronicity, synergy, morphogenetic fields.
Design both quantifies and qualifies experiences and events made conscionable to every observer.
When such an arrangement of resonant energy is perceived/observed/interpreted as a form of intelligence, even more expansive "forms of symbolic continuity" can be arranged by simply expanding within the same environmental constraints, i.e. contexts, that recognize and distinguish this particular relationship from others. When internally focused such revelations are interpreted as new experiences and added to a list of categories, e.g. facts, knowledge, understanding, compassion, wisdom, empathy, integrity, love, etc. These experiences create new opportunities, imaginings and impressions that when translated into a different form of awareness, will similarly contribute to the proliferation of a more expansive field we observe as consciousness.
In reference to design, all of consciousness must work within symbolic constraints and parameters. When approaching apparent limitations, consciousness must seek out, integrate and blend with other fields of awareness for purposes of evolutionary progress, expansion and survival.
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Consciousness and Adaptive Design: A Multidisciplinary Perspective
Consciousness can be conceived as an emergent phenomenon critically dependent on the capacity to adapt within a dynamically changing environment. From a metaphysical viewpoint, consciousness is not a static entity but arises through continuous interaction—or "intra-action"—with its surroundings (Barad, 2007) Wikipedia. This relational ontology resonates with the principles of agential realism, where the observer and observed co-emerge through mutual entanglement, rather than existing as pre-established entities.
In quantum physics, theories of consciousness such as Orchestrated Objective Reduction (Orch OR) propose that microtubule-based quantum processing underlies cognitive phenomena (Penrose & Hameroff, 1994) Wikipedia. Such a model, though controversial, empowers us to envisage consciousness as rooted in non-classical information exchanges—highlighting cognition as an interplay of energy, light, and information, manifesting at scales both microphysical and phenomenological.
Likewise, David Bohm’s concept of the holomovement portrays reality—and by extension, consciousness—as a flowing, indivisible unity from which discrete forms emerge and return (Bohm, 1980) Wikipedia. In this framing, observer, environment, and event are enfolded in a continuous, dynamic totality.
A semiotic lens—particularly drawing upon Peircean pragmatism and the merger of design and semiotics—reveals that consciousness is not merely perceptual but symbolic. Signs, symbols, and metaphors serve as active mediators of meaning, shaping cognition and design consciousness as emotionally and contextually modulated (Peirce, 1931–1958; Barrett, 2017; Varela et al., 1991) designmetaphysics.blogspot.com, / ResearchGate.
Psychological theories of affective realism reinforce this, positing that our emotional states influence perceptual reality itself (Barrett, 2017)
In the domain of artificial intelligence and information theory, constructor theory (Deutsch & Marletto, 2014) reframes physical laws in terms of what transformations are possible versus impossible, treating information and computation as physical phenomena in their own right. Wikipedia This perspective aligns with emergentism, which posits that consciousness and intelligence emerge from systems exhibiting complex organization, transcending reductive explanations (O'Connor & Wong, 2015).
From the vantage point of philosophy, particularly emergentist and participatory models of reality, Wheeler’s "It from Bit" proposition postulates that reality—or “its”—arise from acts of observation: bits of information created by participatory observers (Wheeler, mid 20th century) / Medium. This frames consciousness not as a passive witness, but as a creative agent in the ontogenesis of reality.
Finally, in design theory, design is both the quantifier and qualifier of conscious experience. It operates within symbolic constraints, translating impressions of energy, meaning, and coherence into tangible constructs that reflect expanding fields of awareness. Design becomes a process of negotiating boundaries—contextual, semiotic, aesthetic—and evolving resonance.
APA Style References
- Barad, K. (2007). Meeting the universe halfway: Quantum physics and the entanglement of matter and meaning. Duke University Press.
- Bohm, D. (1980). Wholeness and the implicate order. Routledge.
- Deutsch, D., & Marletto, C. (2014). Constructor theory of information. Proceedings of the Royal Society A.
- O'Connor, T., & Wong, H. Y. (2015). Emergent properties. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2015 Edition).
- Peirce, C. S. (1931–1958). Collected papers of Charles Sanders Peirce. Harvard University Press.
- Penrose, R., & Hameroff, S. (1994). Shadows of the mind: A search for the missing science of consciousness. Oxford University Press. (On Orch OR theory)Wikipedia
- Varela, F., Thompson, E., & Rosch, E. (1991). The embodied mind: Cognitive science and human experience. MIT Press.designmetaphysics.blogspot.com
- Wheeler, J. A. (~mid 20th century). It from Bit and Participatory Anthropic Principle. In insights summarized from contemporary syntheses.
- Barrett, L. F. (2017). How emotions are made: The secret life of the brain. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. (On affective realism)
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Consciousness, in its most fundamental essence, is contingent upon the capacity to adjust and adapt to an environment that is in a state of perpetual flux. This adaptive nature requires a dynamic interplay between stimuli perceived as arising from both internal and external sources. In understanding the concept of "design consciousness," it is crucial to consider how these stimuli, when interpreted through the framework of perception and cognition, form the basis of our awareness and interaction with the world. From a metaphysical standpoint, consciousness is not merely a passive receptacle of external information but an active participant in the creation of meaning, shaped by both symbolic and experiential exchanges.
The ability of consciousness to survive and function effectively within its environment necessitates a certain degree of awareness—an awareness that encompasses both fundamental and complex cognitive elements. These elements can range from basic sensory processing to the higher-order deliberations of reason and reflection (Dennett, 1991). Cognitive processes thus act as both a prerequisite and a vehicle for the realization of consciousness. As such, consciousness manifests not as a singular, static phenomenon but as a dynamic system capable of adapting to a vast array of environmental conditions. This adaptation is not limited to the mere survival of the organism but extends to the flourishing of the individual's capacity to make meaning, form judgments, and experience the world in multifaceted ways (Merleau-Ponty, 1962).
A field of consciousness becomes more expansive and inclusive as it integrates diverse symbolic forms of awareness, complexity, and influence. In this context, cognition does not only contribute to the intelligence of the conscious being but also facilitates the evolutionary processes through which consciousness adapts to increasingly complex circumstances (Jaynes, 1976). Through the augmentation of awareness, consciousness enhances its prospects for survival by incorporating new resources—whether these are cognitive, emotional, or social—while maintaining a delicate balance between internal coherence and external adaptation. Over time, through this process of adaptation and response to changing circumstances, consciousness evolves, enabling the observer to integrate more sophisticated modes of engagement with the environment.
At a more granular level, the interaction between the conscious observer and the surrounding world can be understood as an exchange of energy, light, and information. These exchanges occur through various forms of expression, such as sounds, gestures, postures, speech, and even complex cultural artifacts like music or visual design. Each of these forms of energy reflects different levels of awareness within the broader spectrum of mineral, organic, animal, and human existence (Chardin, 1955). Within this expansive web of energy exchanges, the Earth's own morphogenetic field—the collective field of life and consciousness—undergoes constant transformation, influenced by the myriad interactions between organisms and their environments (Sheldrake, 1981).
Consciousness, therefore, is not a monolithic construct but a constellation of interwoven cognitions, each arising from distinct fields of energy, light, and information. The perception of these fields, and their symbolic representations, provides the framework through which consciousness unfolds. As such, every experience, every observed phenomenon, is itself a manifestation of consciousness, framed by the symbolic systems through which it is interpreted (Peirce, 1931).
The act of perceiving is not a passive reception of external reality but an active engagement with the symbolic language of the universe, where signs and symbols communicate the nature of reality through patterns of energy that resonate at specific frequencies.
The interpretation of these patterns, in turn, produces a cascade of cognitive responses. These responses, based on the symbolic interactions between the observer and the observed, lead to the generation of meaning and the construction of knowledge. The resulting vibratory exchanges—manifested in the form of light, energy, and information—materialize into new forms of awareness, which can be both observable and unobservable, tangible and intangible. These energy patterns, which emerge from the resonance between different fields, embody a new reality, one that exists at the intersection of perception, cognition, and metaphysical potential.
Design, both in its quantitative and qualitative aspects, plays a crucial role in the process of making experiences and events conscionable. The very act of designing is an intentional structuring of consciousness that attempts to give form to the unfolding of awareness. Design does not merely serve as an aesthetic or functional artifact; rather, it serves as a conduit for the exchange of meaning and the expansion of consciousness itself (Dewey, 1934). The symbolic systems embedded within design—whether they manifest as visual representations, architectural forms, or technological innovations—act as mediators of consciousness, facilitating the engagement between the observer and the environment in ways that deepen the understanding and potential for adaptation (Buchanan, 2001).
When these resonant energy patterns are perceived as forms of intelligence, the boundaries of consciousness expand further. The interplay of symbolic continuity enables the creation of new possibilities within the same environmental constraints, leading to an ever-widening horizon of understanding and experience (Barrett, 2012). This expansion, whether directed inward toward personal reflection or outward toward collective engagement, contributes to the continuous evolution of consciousness. Each new realization, each fresh insight, adds to a growing body of knowledge and wisdom, which, in turn, informs the observer's interaction with the world.
In the context of design, this expansion is particularly evident. Design operates within symbolic parameters that frame the conscious experience, enabling the observer to navigate and engage with the world in more meaningful ways. As consciousness encounters apparent limitations—whether they be cognitive, emotional, or environmental—it seeks out new relationships and integrates with other fields of awareness. This process of integration and blending facilitates evolutionary progress, driving the expansion of consciousness while ensuring its continued survival and adaptation within a constantly changing world (Latour, 2005).
Ultimately, the process of design is a form of consciousness itself—one that emerges from the intricate dance of symbols, energy, and meaning. As such, it is an essential mechanism by which the observer adapts to, influences, and evolves in response to the ever-changing landscape of both the inner and outer worlds.
References
- Barrett, L. F. (2012). The human sense of self. Psychological Science, 23(5), 489–500. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611435537
- Buchanan, R. (2001). Design and the new rhetoric: Productive relationships between design theory and rhetorical theory. Design Issues, 17(2), 14–23. https://doi.org/10.1162/074793601750357015
- Chardin, P. T. (1955). The phenomenon of man. Harper & Row.
- Dewey, J. (1934). Art as experience. Perigee Books.
- Dennett, D. C. (1991). Consciousness explained. Little, Brown, and Company.
- Jaynes, J. (1976). The origin of consciousness in the breakdown of the bicameral mind. Houghton Mifflin.
- Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press.
- Merleau-Ponty, M. (1962). Phenomenology of perception (C. Smith, Trans.). Routledge.
- Peirce, C. S. (1931). Collected papers of Charles Sanders Peirce (C. Hartshorne & P. Weiss, Eds.). Harvard University Press.
- Sheldrake, R. (1981). A new science of life: The hypothesis of formative causation. Park Street Press.
The author generated this text in part with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, the author reviewed, edited, and revised the language to their own liking and takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.
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"To believe is to accept another's truth.
To know is your own creation."
Anonymous
Edited: 11.28.2013, 01.11.2017, 04.09.2020, 01.28.2023, 01.27.2024, 08.25.2024
Find your truth. Know your mind. Follow your heart. Love eternal will not be denied. Discernment is an integral part of self-mastery. You may share this post as long as author, copyright and URL https://designconsciousness.blogspot.com/ is included as the resource and shared on a non-commercial no charge basis. Please note … posts are continually being edited over time. Copyright © 2009 C.G. Garant. All Rights Reserved. (Fair use notice) You are also invited to visit https://designmetaphysics.blogspot.com/, and https://sagariandesignnetwork.blogspot.com and https://www.pinterest.com
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