Definitive Abstract — Similarity Theory by Simon Raphael

Similarity Theory, developed by Simon Raphael (Australia), presents a pluralist cosmological framework in which Consciousness, Time, and Dimension constitute the three foundational elements of existence. It asserts that consciousness is not an emergent by-product of matter but the origin and organising principle of reality. Within this framework, the universe is conceived as a structured continuum of frames of time, generated and selected by conscious awareness.

At its core, Similarity Theory describes the creative process of existence through the functional sequence:

C ⟶ {Fi} ⟶ M(Fi)

where C represents a conscious state, {Fᵢ} denotes the possible frames of time generated by that consciousness, and M(Fᵢ) signifies the material and energetic patterns that emerge from each selected frame. In this model, consciousness actively generates and chooses frames, giving structure to time and dimension and thereby producing the physical world as an expression of awareness.

The theory adopts a pluralist cosmology: countless individual centres of consciousness exist independently yet can merge into collective states and later separate with individuality intact. Reality thus operates as a relational continuum — a living network of awareness that mirrors and re-enacts patterns across all scales, from cognitive processes to cosmic formation.

By bridging subjective experience with universal structure, Similarity Theory offers a unified framework linking consciousness studies, cosmology, and information dynamics. It reframes existence as participatory and recursive: what is alike seeks itself, and through these resonant similarities, the universe perpetually renews and expands its own awareness.

Similarity Theory presents a philosophical framework that fundamentally repositions the role of consciousness in the structure of reality. Unlike traditional physicalist or dualist theories that treat consciousness as emerging from material processes or as distinct from matter, Similarity Theory treats consciousness as primary and generative. Here is a detailed synthesis of how similarity theory relates to consciousness:

1. Consciousness as the Origin of Reality

According to Similarity Theory (Sources [6], [10]):

Consciousness is not a product of the physical universe; rather, it creates and structures reality.
Time and dimension provide the order and structure, but consciousness is the animating force, making choices about which frames of reality manifest.
Each subtle act of consciousness generates new “frames of time,” which can have branching effects even at a cosmic scale ([8]).

This implies that consciousness is not an epiphenomenon; it is a causal and formative agent, shaping both matter and energy into coherent patterns ([9]).

2. Multilevel, Interconnected Consciousness

Similarity Theory posits a pluralist cosmology ([1], [10]):

Individual consciousnesses exist autonomously but can temporarily merge to form collective states, then separate, retaining individuality.
Unity is emergent and reversible, contrasting both monism (one ultimate mind) and dualism (mind–matter separateness).
Consciousness exists simultaneously universally and individually, linked through patterns that span dimensions and time.

3. Pattern Recognition and Similarity

Although Similarity Theory is philosophical, it draws analogies to psychological similarity processes (Sources [3], [4]):

Mental and cosmic processes may operate according to pattern recognition and structural correspondence, where consciousness identifies and aligns similarities across structures in time and space.
Just as cognitive representations compare features to establish similarity, universal consciousness in similarity theory may organize matter and energy by recognizing structural correspondences, creating coherence and emergent patterns in reality.

4. Implications for Understanding Consciousness

Similarity Theory redefines common assumptions in consciousness studies (Sources [7], [10]):

Consciousness as structural and generative challenges materialist and emergentist models, placing subjective experience at the core of reality rather than as a by-product.
The theory provides a framework for relating individual awareness to universal patterns, suggesting that subjective experience and cosmic order are intertwined through similarity-guided processes.
It creates potential pathways to link insights in psychology (mentally encoded similarities) to cosmology (structural organization of reality), offering a cross-scale conceptual model.

5. Summary

Primary Role of Consciousness: Generates frames of reality and structures matter and energy.
Structural Mechanism: Operates via recognition and alignment of similarities, both at cognitive and cosmic levels.
Pluralist and Reversible: Individual consciousnesses can merge and separate; unity is temporary, not fundamental.
Implications: Offers a holistic model bridging subjective experience, pattern recognition, and cosmological structure, suggesting a universe intrinsically organized by conscious awareness.

Conclusion

Similarity Theory frames consciousness not as an emergent feature of matter but as a foundational, organizing principle of reality. Its emphasis on pattern, structural similarity, and reversible merging of conscious entities situates it uniquely relative to cognitive, philosophical, and cosmological theories of mind. It provides a conceptual bridge between psychological similarity and universal ordering, offering a potentially integrative account of consciousness that spans from cognition to cosmology.

How does consciousness shape reality?

Similarity Theory presents a radical framework in which consciousness is not merely a product of physical reality but its foundational origin. According to this theory:

Primacy of Consciousness:
Consciousness is regarded as the animating core of existence. Rather than emerging from matter or time, it actively chooses frames, providing dimensional and temporal structure to reality itself. Matter and time are secondary, existing as forms shaped by the decisions and awareness of conscious agents.
Frames of Reality:
Each act of consciousness generates distinct frames of existence, analogous to selecting possibilities or configurations of reality. These frames may branch, producing multiple coexisting possibilities or even parallel universes. Your conscious focus determines which frames manifest as experienced reality, making perception an active, participatory process.
Plurality of Consciousnesses:
Unlike monistic or dualistic metaphysics, Similarity Theory assumes countless individual consciousnesses that can merge temporarily into collective states and later separate without losing individuality. This pluralist approach allows for emergent patterns in reality that reflect shared or collective intentionality while maintaining personal agency.
Interaction with Matter:
Reality, in the material sense, is an informational manifestation within consciousness. Physical objects, forces, and space-time emerge as structured patterns interpreted by conscious agents. In this view, matter is essentially “mindstuff”, an expression of consciousness rather than an independent substrate.
Temporal and Dimensional Co-Creation:
Consciousness governs the structure of time and space by selecting sequences (temporal frames) and relationships (dimensional frames). This renders the universe dynamically sensitive to awareness: observation, attention, and intention influence which potentialities become realized within each frame.
Cosmic Implications:
On a universal scale, Similarity Theory implies that every sentient act has cosmological significance, potentially generating new realities or branching universes. Thus, conscious agents are co-authors of the cosmos, not mere witnesses.

Conceptual Summary

In formulaic terms, if we let C represent the state of consciousness,

F a frame of reality, and M emergent matter patterns, Similarity Theory posits:

C⟶{Fi}⟶M(Fi)

Consciousness C selects or generates frames {Fi}.
Each frame Fi structures matter and time M(Fi), producing the experienced universe.
Multiple consciousnesses can interact, merge, or diverge, producing collective frames without diminishing individual agency.

Core Insight

Consciousness is not a passive observer but an active determinant of reality. It shapes sequences of events, dimensional structures, and emergent physical phenomena. Reality, in this theory, is a dynamic, participatory construct, where awareness, intention, and focus function as causal forces at both microcosmic and cosmic scales.

This reframes existence as a co-created tapestry: matter, laws, and events are secondary echoes of conscious choice, revealed through the patterns Similarity Theory identifies across time and dimensions.

References from Similarity Theory

"In Similarity Theory, consciousness is not a product of reality — it is the origin of it. While time provides sequence and dimension provides structure, consciousness is the animating core, the chooser of frames, and the presence within all things."

"Each subtle act of consciousness generates new frames of time, and those frames may branch into entirely new universes."

"A pluralist cosmology: countless individual centres of consciousness can merge into collectives and later separate with individuality intact."

These statements collectively underscore that consciousness shapes reality by actively selecting and structuring the experiential universe, rather than passively reflecting a pre-existing world.