Abstract

Traditional theories of consciousness assume that intelligence emerges exclusively from biological organisms with complex nervous systems. However, Planetary Noetics challenges this anthropocentric view by exploring whether cognition could emerge on a planetary scale. Drawing from complexity science, Integrated Information Theory, Gaia Theory, and systems neuroscience, this paper presents a philosophical framework suggesting that Earth's vast, self-regulating processes may exhibit emergent cognitive properties. This inquiry does not claim that Earth possesses human-like awareness but proposes that planetary-scale intelligence may arise through integrated information processing, adaptive feedback loops, and self-organizing systems —the very principles underlying cognition in decentralized biological and artificial networks. Key topics include the implications of non-neural intelligence, the potential measurement of planetary-scale information integration (Planetary Φ), and ethical considerations if Earth functions as a cognitive system. By bridging philosophy, neuroscience, and complex systems theory, this work invites interdisciplinary discussion and empirical exploration to reassess our understanding of consciousness and intelligence. This preprint serves as an introduction to a groundbreaking dialogue on cognition beyond the human mind and our interconnected role within Earth's dynamic systems.