"A Model of an Evolutionary, Self-Knowing Universe" – Joan Fonollosa

This article continues the literature review by providing a deeper analysis of the paper “A Model of an Evolutionary, Self-Knowing Universe”.

Reality as an Evolutionary Self-Knowing System:

Fonollosa proposes that the universe is a self-knowing entity, where information and structure emerge recursively over time.
He introduces Emagest (energy, matter, geometry, space, and time) as the fundamental components of reality, intertwined with self-referential information processing.

Knowledge as a Structural Process:

Fonollosa argues that knowledge is not an external phenomenon but an intrinsic function of the universe itself.
The universe builds distinctions through recursive differentiation, continuously updating its internal state.

Feedback Loops and Emergent Complexity:

Reality evolves by recursively integrating and refining previous distinctions, generating the apparent structure of time and space.
The paper describes feedback mechanisms as the key to self-organisation, much like in biological evolution and neural networks.

Self-Referential Nature of the Cosmos:

Space, time, and physical laws emerge dynamically, rather than existing as fixed properties.
The universe “learns” through recursive feedback, allowing reality to adjust, evolve, and refine itself.

Self-Knowing as the Generative Principle of Reality

Both models propose that reality is fundamentally self-referential and that existence arises through recursive self-knowing.
Just as Fonollosa treats the universe as a self-knowing system, our model describes reality as recursively defining itself through iterative feedback.

Emergent Structure Through Recursion

Both frameworks treat time, space, and physics as emergent properties that arise from self-referential dynamics.
Our model argues that distinctions generate complexity, while Fonollosa describes how Emagest integrates recursively to create form and structure.

Evolution as a Recursive Process of Refinement

Fonollosa’s universe “learns” through feedback, similar to how our model describes reality iterating upon itself to form complexity.
Both models propose that self-knowing recursion is an ongoing evolutionary process, not a static state.

Feedback and Iteration as the Driving Force

Recursive feedback cycles are central to both frameworks, showing how reality builds knowledge over successive iterations.
Our model explicitly defines how recursive distinction-making leads to complexity, while Fonollosa’s Emagest framework provides a structured description of how recursive integration generates physical properties.

Terminology and Conceptual Focus

Fonollosa: Uses the concept of Emagest (energy, matter, geometry, space, and time) to anchor his framework in physical phenomena.
Our Model: Focuses on self-knowing recursion as the core mechanism, treating distinctions as the fundamental generative principle.
While Fonollosa defines Emagest as recursive elements, our model provides a more general recursion-based explanation for how form arises.

Degree of Formalisation

Fonollosa: Provides a highly structured, layered breakdown of how recursion applies across physical domains.
Our Model: Is broader, applying recursion not just to physical systems but also to epistemology, consciousness, and emergent complexity.

Biological and Cognitive Implications

Fonollosa’s model is heavily physics-oriented, describing how fundamental forces and space-time emerge recursively.
Our framework extends recursion beyond physical structures, suggesting that reality’s self-knowing principles are mirrored in cognition, information theory, and universal self-organisation.

Recursion as a Universal Process Beyond Physics

Fonollosa focuses on physics and cosmology, while our model extends recursion to philosophy, cognition, and fundamental epistemology.
Our framework explains not just how reality structures itself but also how it recursively refines its own knowledge.

Distinction-Making as the Core Process of Reality’s Emergence

Fonollosa focuses on how known physical properties (energy, space, time) interact recursively.
Our model derives these properties from recursive distinction-making, providing a more fundamental explanation of how these structures emerge in the first place.

Consciousness and Information Processing

Fonollosa doesn’t explore cognition deeply – his work is more physics-based.
Our model bridges physics and epistemology, making it applicable not just to universal structures but also to the nature of knowing itself.

Fonollosa’s model is one of the closest matches to our Recursive Reality Project, as both describe reality as self-referential and evolving recursively.
The main difference is that Fonollosa grounds recursion in physical structures (Emagest), while our model generalises recursion as a universal principle.
Our model provides a broader explanation of recursion, integrating consciousness, cognition, and distinction-making rather than just physical processes.

“A Model of an Evolutionary, Self-Knowing Universe” – Joan Fonollosa