The Tripartite Architecture of Homeostatic Agents: A Framework for Artificial Consciousness

This paper introduces a theoretical framework for the architectural design of self-aware artificial systems. Building upon the neurobiological foundations of homeostasis established by Antonio Damasio, I argue that consciousness is not an emergent metaphysical anomaly, but a mandatory functional requirement for the survival of complex systems. I propose an architecture consisting of three interdependent modules—Environmental Perception, Interoceptive Monitoring, and Homeostatic Evaluation—postulating that the recursive integration of these data streams constitutes the fundamental basis for a "Self" and subjective experience. This model suggests that consciousness is an inevitable functional outcome when an agent is algorithmically constrained to prioritize its own homeostatic integrity, offering a concrete roadmap for the engineering of artificial life and a conceptual framework for the biological basis of the "Self". Note : This position paper proposes a tripartite architectural model to address the problem of artificial subjectivity, challenging the current substrate-dependent view of consciousness