Biology

Epoch #4: Information Becomes Aware

The Epoch framework traces the emergence of complexity through four phase transitions. Epoch #1: Energy — the Big Bang creates matter and energy. Epoch #2: Chemistry — atoms combine into molecules, governed by quantum mechanics. Epoch #3: Biology — self-replicating molecular systems emerge, exploiting thermodynamic gradients to sustain negative entropy. Epoch #4: Consciousness — biological information processing reaches a threshold where the system becomes aware of itself. Each epoch does not replace the previous one but builds upon it.