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Untitled Draft — LessWrong

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Untitled Draft

2nd Dec 2025

3 min read

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Path Dependence Theory of Consciousness

by mingxing

30th Nov 2025

6 min read

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This post was rejected for the following reason(s):

Difficult to evaluate, with potential yellow flags. We are sorry about this, but, unfortunately this content has some yellow-flags that historically have usually indicated that the post won't make much sense. It's totally plausible that actually this one is totally fine. Unfortunately, part of the trouble with separating valuable from confused speculative science or philosophy is that the ideas are quite complicated, accurately identifying whether they have flaws is very time intensive, and we don't have time to do that for every new user presenting a speculative theory or framing (which are usually wrong).

Our solution for now is that we're rejecting this post, but you are welcome to submit posts or comments that are about different topics. If it seems like that goes well, we can re-evaluate the original post. But, we want to see that you're not just here to talk about this one thing (or a cluster of similar things).

Not obviously not Language Model. Sometimes we get posts or comments where it's not clearly human generated.

LLM content is generally not good enough for LessWrong, and in particular we don't want it from new users who haven't demonstrated a more general track record of good content. See our current policy on LLM content.

We caution that LLMs tend to agree with you regardless of what you're saying, and don't have good enough judgment to evaluate content. If you're talking extensively with LLMs to develop your ideas (especially if you're talking about philosophy, physics, or AI) and you've been rejected here, you are most likely not going to get approved on LessWrong on those topics. You could read the Sequences Highlights to catch up the site basics, and if you try submitting again, focus on much narrower topics.

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Theory Name: Path Dependence Theory of Consciousness

Core Thesis: Consciousness is not a thing, but the process of "path dependence" itself. All self-sustaining path-dependent systems possess consciousness at their respective levels.

I. Core Definitions and Axioms

1. Redefinition of Consciousness:

· Consciousness: A dynamic process by which a system makes beneficial decisions to maintain its own existence, based on its historical experience (paths).

· It is not a static "possession," but an active "present continuous."

2. Path Dependence as the Self:

· Every stably formed path dependence is a minimal unit of "self" or "consciousness unit."

· From the folding path of a protein to the cultural habits of a person, each is a "self" maintaining the continuity of its specific pattern.

3. The "Individual" as a Collective of Consciousnesses:

· An entity called a "person" or "animal" is not a single self, but a temporary coalition, parliament, or ecosystem composed of a vast number of "path-dependent selves" at different levels.

· So-called "unified consciousness" is merely a temporary stable state when this coalition reaches a dynamic balance and promotes a "dominant narrative."

II. Explanations and Evidence

1. Explaining Phenomena at Different Levels of Consciousness:

· Cellular Consciousness: A bacterium swimming towards nutrients based on chemical gradient history is a survival decision based on path dependence.

· Skills and Habits: Once learned (path solidified), riding a bicycle no longer requires conscious thought and becomes an "automated self."

· Personal Identity: The reason "you" are "you" is shaped by the unique historical path of all experienced events from your birth to this moment.

2. Perfectly Explaining Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID):

· DID is the formation of multiple, mutually exclusive, complete "path-dependent coalitions" within the brain.

· When Personality A is active, the paths of Personality B are strongly inhibited, and the "access paths" to its memories and skills are blocked, thus causing them to "disappear."

· This proves that consciousness is modular, path-dependent, and can exist independently of other modules.

3. Defining a Continuum Between "Life" and "Non-Life":

· Ordinary Protein: Passively maintains its three-dimensional structure (primordial self).

· Prion: Actively "imposes" its structural path onto other proteins (a more aggressive self).

· Virus: Pure "will to replicate information" (a self on the threshold).

· Bacteria/Humans: Recognized "collectives of consciousness" of varying complexity.

· Conclusion: "Life" is an efficient form of path-dependent self-maintenance, but not the only form.

III. Unique Advantages and Predictions of the Theory

1. Unifies Mind and