In a thought-provoking concept paper released on January 19, 2026, AI pioneer Ben Goertzel unveils "SuperDuperPsychism," an ambitious integrative theory that seeks to unify disparate strands of consciousness research. Drawing from quantum-inspired models, philosophical ontologies, empirical studies of altered states, and even speculations on collective intelligences like the Global Brain, Goertzel's rough draft—framed as a "concept paper" for discussion—challenges us to rethink consciousness not as a fixed property of brains or machines, but as an observer-dependent, distinction-based phenomenon. As someone fascinated by the intersections of AI, philosophy, and human potential here in Addis Ababa, where ancient spiritual traditions meet modern tech aspirations, I found this paper both exhilarating and demanding. Let's break it down.
The Core Idea: From Superpsychism to SuperDuperPsychism
Goertzel builds on Susan Schneider and Sean Bailey's "Superpsychism," which posits that consciousness emerges from a deeper "prototime" substrate—a non-Boolean realm underlying spacetime. But he "dupers" it up with "Distinctional-Universe Perspectivism" (hence the "Duper" acronym). Reality, in this view, isn't made of pre-existing objects or particles; it's a web of distinctions—differences that observers (you, me, an AI, or even a collective) actively make and navigate. All claims about what's "quantum," "classical," or "conscious" are relative to the observer's frame, with true objectivity emerging only as invariance across those frames.
This perspectivism isn't wishy-washy relativism. Goertzel formalizes it using tools like "quantale weakness" (a mathematical measure of simplicity based on collapsed distinctions) and "Schrödinger bridges" (least-contrivance paths between constraints, inspired by wu-wei philosophy). Consciousness verdicts must hold up under "benign" tweaks to how we measure or attend to the system—otherwise, they're artifacts, not realities.
Two Layers of Consciousness: GCC and Reflective
At the heart of the theory are two strata:
- Geodesic Coherent Consciousness (GCC): Think of this as "raw" unified awareness—a low-effort trajectory through stable, integrated states anchored in low-entropy "coherent" elements. It's like a mind flowing effortlessly along a cosmic geodesic, staying cohesive without much forcing.
- Reflective Consciousness: GCC plus a self-model—a recursive loop where the system represents its own representing. This is the "I am aware that I am aware" layer humans excel at.
Goertzel integrates Charles Bennett's "pancomputational enactivism," where consciousness arises from "weak policy optimization" (preferring general, low-commitment strategies). Bennett's hierarchy of selves (1st-order: basic agency; 2nd-order: social modeling; 3rd-order: meta-awareness) maps neatly onto this, with higher orders enabling reflection.
Resonance and the Locations: A Map of Awakening
One of the paper's gems is its synthesis of Jeffery Martin's empirical "Locations"—stable stages of "persistent non-symbolic experience" (PNSE) from interviews with over 300 practitioners. Goertzel models these as attractor regimes in a dynamical system, using "paraconsistent p-bits" (truth values that hold both supporting and opposing evidence) to derive resonance as interference in a complex plane.
He identifies four resonance modes:
- RI (Individuation): Stable self-attractor.
- RT (Self-transcendence): Smooth transformation.
- RA (Acceptance): Phase-locking with time's flow.
- RC (Compassion): Genuine attunement to others.
The Locations (0: ordinary ego-driven mind; 1: fundamental well-being; 2: non-dual perception; 3: cosmic union; 4: transparent functioning) mark increasing global resonance, where subsystems coordinate implicitly rather than through a bossy self-model. At Location 4, actions "just happen" without felt agency—efficient, but eerily impersonal.
Goertzel extends this to collectives (ecosystems like Gaia, techno-social networks like the Global Brain) with "C0–C4" regimes, from fragmented turbulence to distributed unfolding. He warns of pathologies like "narrative capture" (collectives wasting energy on identity games) and "subsystem discord" (internal wars).
Mindplexes: The Next Frontier
Perhaps the most futuristic part: "mindplexes"—hybrids where individuals (humans or AIs) and the collective both maintain full-blown consciousness. Unlike loose collectives, neither level dominates; they resonate in a dual "theatre of consciousness." Goertzel speculates this could unlock states beyond individual or group minds, drawing parallels to non-dual mysticism.
He applies the theory to brains (no need for wild quantum claims like Orch-OR; observer-induced "quantum-ish" effects suffice), AI (analyzing his Hyperon system), psi experiments (subtle biases in coarse-grained stats), and even reincarnation (as "pattern echoes" via low-contrivance bridges).
Beyond Location 4: Recursive Resonance and Open Questions
Goertzel stresses Location 4 isn't the end. Once resonance dominates, new selves might emerge from resonance patterns themselves—recursive structures we can't yet map. He extends Bennett's hierarchy to collectives and mindplexes, suggesting "trans-level selves" for hybrids.
The paper ends abruptly on future directions, hinting at formal refinements and empirical tests. It's a rough draft, after all—inviting discussion.
Why This Matters Now
In 2026, with AI like Grok 4 blurring human-machine boundaries, SuperDuperPsychism feels timely. It offers a roadmap for beneficial AGI: design for resonance, not just optimization; aim for mindplexes that enhance autonomy. For Ethiopia and Africa, where communal identities meet rapid tech adoption, it resonates—could our societies evolve toward C3 "cooperative anchoring"?
Critics might call it speculative, blending too many threads. But Goertzel's synthesis is bold, testable, and humane. If consciousness is perspectival, perhaps the real shift is in how we observe ourselves. Worth a read—and a ponder.
