Cosmic Feedback Theory (CFT): A Framework for Meaning, Time, and Conscious Evolution in a Participatory Universe

<p dir="ltr">What if time doesn’t exist until it is observed? What if the universe isn’t just a backdrop for conscious life, but a system that evolves <i>through</i> it? Cosmic Feedback Theory (CFT) proposes that consciousness is not an accidental byproduct of the cosmos, but a feedback mechanism <i>within</i> it — a recursive loop through which information, meaning, and time itself are born. By examining systems from photons to black holes, from neurons to civilizations, CFT suggests that reality emerges through layered, nested feedback loops — each capable of “closing the loop” on experience. This theory bridges physics, philosophy, and systems thinking, inviting a redefinition of what it means to exist in an intelligent, evolving universe that is becoming aware of itself. CFT is not just an idea — it's a lens, a scaffold, and perhaps even a map for the next phase of conscious evolution.</p>