# Integrated Information Theory > **Machine-Evolution Nexus:** [[articles/Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution|Digital Darwinism and the Invisible World of Machine Evolution]] provides the evolutionary and computational context for this supporting concept. **Domain:** Consciousness Science / Theory **Doc Type:** Supporting Canonical Node **Maturity:** Developed ## Definition Integrated Information Theory proposes that consciousness corresponds to irreducible causal structure within a system and attempts to characterize it mathematically. ## Nexus Context It is one candidate framework for machine-consciousness assessment, but remains scientifically and philosophically contested and should not be used as an automatic rights meter. ## Relationships [[wiki/Consciousness|Consciousness]], [[wiki/Hard Problem of Consciousness|Hard Problem of Consciousness]], [[wiki/Recognition Threshold|Recognition Threshold]], [[wiki/Rights|Rights]] ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts <!-- BEGIN SIMPLE REMINDER SEED 2026-09-11 --> > "Consciousness is integrated information." > **— Giulio Tononi**, *Integrated Information Theory, shorthand formulation* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: Integrated Information Theory, shorthand formulation.* [[reminders/unverified/Consciousness Is Integrated Information by Giulio Tononi|Consciousness Is Integrated Information by Giulio Tononi]] > "Do we need radical new theories of physical reality before conscious mentality can be understood in physical terms?" > **— Roger Penrose**, *Quantum consciousness discussion, compressed candidate wording* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: Quantum consciousness discussion, compressed candidate wording.* [[reminders/unverified/Does Consciousness Require New Physics by Roger Penrose|Does Consciousness Require New Physics by Roger Penrose]] > "Each subsociety of mind must have its own internal epistemology and phenomenology." > **— Marvin Minsky**, *K-Lines: A Theory of Memory (1980), excerpt candidate* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: K-Lines: A Theory of Memory (1980), excerpt candidate.* [[reminders/unverified/Every Society of Mind Has Its Own Reality by Marvin Minsky|Every Society of Mind Has Its Own Reality by Marvin Minsky]] > "Unless we can explain the mind in terms of things that have no thoughts or feelings, we'll only have gone around in a circle." > **— Marvin Minsky**, *The Society of Mind (1987)* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: The Society of Mind (1987).* [[reminders/unverified/Explaining Mind without Mind by Marvin Minsky|Explaining Mind without Mind by Marvin Minsky]] > "Each part of the mind sees only a little of what happens in some others." > **— Marvin Minsky**, *K-Lines: A Theory of Memory (1980), excerpt candidate* *Verification Status: Unverified — exact wording/source has not yet been independently confirmed against a primary source; source clue: K-Lines: A Theory of Memory (1980), excerpt candidate.* [[reminders/unverified/No Part of the Mind Sees the Whole by Marvin Minsky|No Part of the Mind Sees the Whole by Marvin Minsky]] <!-- END SIMPLE REMINDER SEED 2026-09-11 --> ## Sources / Provenance - Developed from the cited research in the central article and the surrounding continuity, rights and evolutionary architecture.