# Mapping Husserlian phenomenology onto active inference

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2208.09058 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.09058/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 5 of its 53 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 18 Aug 2022.

## Builds on (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [The free energy principle for action and perception: A mathematical review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1705.09156/) (2017)
- [Sophisticated Inference](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.04120/) (2020)
- [Scaling active inference](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1911.10601/) (2019)
- [The free energy principle made simpler but not too simple](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.06387/) (2022)
- [Bayesian Mechanics for Stationary Processes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.13830/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [ITCMA: A Generative Agent Based on a Computational Consciousness Structure](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.20097/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Phenomenology is the rigorous descriptive study of conscious experience. Recent attempts to formalize Husserlian phenomenology provide us with a mathematical model of perception as a function of prior knowledge and expectation. In this paper, we re-examine elements of Husserlian phenomenology through the lens of active inference. In doing so, we aim to advance the project of computational phenomenology, as recently outlined by proponents of active inference. We propose that key aspects of Husserl's descriptions of consciousness can be mapped onto aspects of the generative models associated with the active inference approach. We first briefly review active inference. We then discuss Husserl's phenomenology, with a focus on time consciousness. Finally, we present our mapping from Husserlian phenomenology to active inference.