Abstract

The author argues that consciousness cannot be defined or explained through either monism or dualism. As an alternative, a triadic framework is proposed, in which matter, energy, and life are defined as distinct and irreducible changes. With and within this framework, a multifaceted understanding of consciousness is developed: • Ontologically, consciousness is universal, since it is the distinction between matter and energy. • Epistemologically, consciousness is unique, since it is the energy formalized, qualified, diversified, and directed by matter. • Semantically, consciousness is a meaningless language with lives as its only meaning. These understandings are further expanded and enriched through the introduction of the homology of subjectivity and objectivity in Section 4, the mirror symmetry between consciousness and action in Section 5, the complementarity of qualia and quantia in Section 6, and a theoretical brain of thirteen dimensions in Section 9. Many theories of consciousness have overlooked its universality or uniqueness, or failed to recognize life as its sole cause or effect. Without life, no distinction between matter and energy is possible, and no language or consciousness is possible.