IIT's Phi: Consciousness Measure Remains Computationally Intractable — E8 Intelligence Research
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: FINDING: Integrated Information Theory (IIT) quantifies consciousness via a scalar Φ (phi), measuring irreducible cause-effect power of a system, but formalizations remain lossy and computationally intractable. | MATH: Φ = minimal information partition (MIP) of system's cause-effect repertoire; for a system S with states s, Φ(S) = min_{partition P} (D(P, S)) where D is Earth Mover's Distance between probability distributions of system states under partition vs. whole. No closed-form equation; computed via exhaustive search over system subsets. | CONNECTION: No direct geometric ratios (0.382, 0.618, 0.786, 1.618, 2.618) or base-60 or crystallographic symmetries appear in the core IIT formalism. The "information integration" concept is topological (network connectivity) rather than metrical or harmonic. | DEPTH: 6 — Profound for consciousness science, but mathematically immature: Φ is not a fundamental constant, lacks analytic expression, and depends on arbitrary discretization of state Author: Andrew Stewart Caldin, Independent Researcher, UK. Part of the E8 Intelligence Research series. Platform: e8intelligence.com
Author: Caldin, Andrew Stewart
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7203685581
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