The Axiom of Consciousness

The act of grasping the first axiom of philosophy, that existence exists, implies the second: that you exist possessing consciousness.¹

Consciousness is not inherent in the fact of existence as such; a world without conscious organisms is possible. But consciousness is inherent in your grasp of existence. Inherent in saying “There is something—of which I am aware” is: “There is something—of which I am aware.”²

The fact of consciousness is and must be an irreducible primary–an inescapable fact–a fundamental starting point–in any act of cognition. No matter the particular subject matter that a man studies, it must be true that he is studying something, which means he is studying something. This is not, nor could it be, negated by any explanation of consciousness, contrary to what some think: that scientists uncover the physical mechanisms that underlie consciousness does not negate consciousness, and similarly that religious mystics uncover some spiritual “soul” driving conscious thought would also not negate consciousness. Ultimately both the mystics of spirit and the mystics of muscle are still engaged in a study of something that exists—they are and must be conscious.