Consciousness

as 'measure of knowing together'

Morphological analysis

• Etymon: Consciousness derived from Latin conscīre: 'know together'
• Morpheme breakdown: con- (together) + scīre (to know) → 'knowing together'

Essential definition

Consciousness is the measurable degree of shared understanding and mutual recognition between entities, framed as a relational and communicative alignment rather than an internal, private state.

Semantic context

• Conventional sense: The intrinsic state or trait of having cognition and sensation themselves.^[1] (Note: Semantic drift from essential meaning)
• Essential meaning (my usage): the 'measure of knowing together'

Philosophical significance

The definition shifts the paradigm of consciousness from the construct of an internalized state to a relational and measurable phenomenon of shared understanding. This re-conceptualization makes consciousness a dynamic process of alignment between beings, placing mutuality of meaning and sense (communicative fidelity) at its core.

Usage in this lexicon

When I use the word consciousness in my work, I mean exactly the 'measure of knowing together'. This definition:

• shifts consciousness from solitary to relational by framing it as a dynamic occurring between entities rather than conflating it with conscius sibi or 'knowing together within' as a static property contained within one isolated entity;
• emphasizes fidelity and alignment by making the clarity of exchange where intention matches understanding the central criterion for conscious experience;
• democratizes potential by opening the possibility of conscious phenomena in any context where alignment of meaning and sense occurs;
• introduces a continuum by suggesting consciousness can vary in degree or deepen or fragment based on the quality of mutual understanding;
• clarifies through contrast by defining breaks in consciousness as a failure or reduction in 'knowing together';
• focuses on process over substance by treating consciousness as an active process of participation and synchrony;
• establishes an ethical and empathetic implication by grounding mutual recognition and empathy in the very structure of conscious experience.

Related Terms

• Belief
• Knowing
• Meaning
• Sense

Sources

• Wiktionary

*This definition follows morphological essentialism principles. See the Methodology for details.