What Truly Exists — Intrinsic Being, Integrated Information Theory, and the Nature of Reality | Chapter 5 of Then I Am Myself the World

What Truly Exists — Intrinsic Being, Integrated Information Theory, and the Nature of Reality | Chapter 5 of Then I Am Myself the World

Chapter 5 of Then I Am Myself the World: What Consciousness Is and How to Expand It by Christof Koch presents one of the book’s most radical and consequential claims: that true existence begins with consciousness itself. Building on the foundations of Integrated Information Theory (IIT), Koch argues that what is real in the deepest sense is not matter, not computation, not function—but experience. This chapter establishes the philosophical and scientific core of the entire book. Below, you will find the full video summary to accompany this written breakdown.

Here is the book cover associated with this chapter:

Book cover

The Heart of IIT: Consciousness as Intrinsic Existence

Koch begins by distinguishing between two very different forms of existence:

  • Intrinsic (absolute) existence: what something is for itself—the felt quality of conscious experience.
  • Extrinsic (relative) existence: what something is for others—objects, mechanisms, and processes that appear in the external world.

According to Koch, only entities with intrinsic causal power truly exist in the deepest ontological sense. A conscious organism is real because it feels like something to be it. Rocks, tables, cars, and even sophisticated algorithms, by contrast, may exist extrinsically, but they do not exist “from the inside.” They lack the spark of being.

This distinction marks a profound shift from classical materialism to a consciousness-centered ontology.

The Five Axioms of Experience

IIT proposes five fundamental truths about conscious experience—axioms that describe what it must be like whenever something is conscious. These are:

  • Intrinsic: Experience exists for the subject.
  • Specific: Each experience has precise qualities.
  • Integrated: Experience is unified; it cannot be reduced to independent parts.
  • Definite: Each experience has clear boundaries and structure.
  • Structured: Experiences contain internal relationships and distinctions.

These axioms describe consciousness from the first-person perspective. They serve as the foundation for IIT’s physical postulates.

From Experience to Physics: Mapping Axioms to Postulates

The power of IIT lies in connecting phenomenology—what consciousness feels like—to physical structures. Each axiom has a corresponding physical requirement:

  • Intrinsic causal power
  • Specific cause-effect structure
  • Integrated interactions
  • Definite causal borders
  • Structured causal relationships

Together, these postulates define when a physical system has the kind of causal organization necessary for consciousness. In this framework, consciousness is not a computation or a symbolic function. It is a real, irreducible structure of cause-effect power.

Φ (Phi): Measuring Consciousness

IIT uses a mathematical quantity—Φ (Phi)—to estimate the degree of integrated information within a system. The greater the Φ, the more the system forms a unified whole, and the more consciousness it possesses.

This leads to a striking implication:

Not all complex systems are conscious—only those that form an irreducible integrated structure.

A highly functional computer might compute rapidly but still produce Φ = 0 if its components do not form an intrinsic, unified cause-effect system. In other words, a system can be intelligent without being conscious.

The Great Divide of Being

Koch revisits an ancient philosophical question: What separates beings that truly are from those that merely exist? IIT draws this line between:

  • Sentient systems with intrinsic causal power (e.g., humans, some animals)
  • Insentient systems that exist only extrinsically (e.g., machines, inert matter)

Most of the physical universe—stars, stones, machinery, and computational systems—does not possess consciousness. Their “existence” is relational, not intrinsic. This reframing positions conscious life as rare, precious, and ontologically privileged.

Reality Reconsidered: Being vs. Function

Koch challenges the widely held assumption that function explains consciousness. Under IIT, the ability to perform tasks or process information does not determine what truly exists. Instead:

Existence is grounded in what it feels like to be a system, not in what the system can do.

This insight inverts much of computational philosophy and cognitive science. Consciousness becomes the primary reality; physical functions become secondary descriptions.

A Turning Point in the Book

Chapter 5 is the theoretical center of Koch’s project. It reframes ontology—what exists—through the lens of consciousness rather than matter. This prepares the reader for later chapters that expand on the implications of IIT for neuroscience, metaphysics, and ethics.

By shifting the definition of “real” from the externally measurable to the internally felt, Koch presents a worldview in which being conscious is the ultimate form of existence.

To explore these ideas visually and conceptually, watch the full chapter video above or continue with the full playlist.

Continue Learning With Last Minute Lecture

If you’re fascinated by IIT, consciousness studies, or the nature of reality, this chapter is an essential milestone. Be sure to explore the remaining chapters, which continue building on this framework.

Click here to open the complete YouTube playlist for Then I Am Myself the World.

If you found this breakdown helpful, be sure to subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for more chapter-by-chapter textbook summaries and academic study guides.

⚠️ Disclaimer: These summaries are created for educational and entertainment purposes only. They provide transformative commentary and paraphrased overviews to help students understand key ideas from the referenced textbooks. Last Minute Lecture is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any textbook publisher or author. All textbook titles, names, and cover images—when shown—are used under nominative fair use solely for identification of the work being discussed. Some portions of the writing and narration are generated with AI-assisted tools to enhance accessibility and consistency. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, these materials are intended to supplement—not replace—official course readings, lectures, or professional study resources. Always refer to the original textbook and instructor guidance for complete and authoritative information.

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