: A "dual-aspect monism" where information and consciousness (cognition) are essentially the same substance.
The CTMU is a cognitive-theoretic model, meaning that it is based on the idea that the universe is fundamentally a cognitive system, and that consciousness plays a central role in its functioning. This approach challenges the traditional view of the universe as a purely physical system, governed by deterministic laws of physics. Instead, the CTMU posits that the universe is a complex, dynamic system that is shaped by the interactions of conscious agents, including humans and other living beings.
In the CTMU, the universe is a "distributed" system of cognition. While individual humans possess distinct, localized consciousness, the underlying structure that enables this consciousness is universal. The laws of logic and mathematics that we discover in our minds are not merely human inventions; they are reflections of the deep structure of reality itself. This creates a monistic framework where the duality of subject and object collapses. The universe does not just contain information; it is information that perceives itself.
This is arguably the most famous neologism in the theory. It breaks down as: