Shuo Chen

A new theory of the neuropsychological underpinnings of phenomenal consciousness, “asynchronous introspection theory,” is proposed that emphasizes asynchrony between different neurocognitive processes. We provide a detailed explanation of how a mind might arrive at a cognitive structure isomorphic to the cognitive structure that would emerge from experiential qualia. The theory suggests that a temporal illusion is created because of the mismatch between the real physical timeline and the neurally constructed timeline composed inside a person’s brain. This temporal illusion leads to the origination of a thought that one has had a certain experience wherein the thought and the feeling seem synchronous to the person but, in fact, are not. This leads to the thought, “I had a feeling.” The theory is elaborated via a metaphorical “robot supervisor model” and is shown to explain many current problems of phenomenal consciousness.

In the context of the late Qing dynasty in China, Liang Qichao framed women’s issues through a triad of initiatives: “abolishing foot-binding”, “promoting women’s education” and idealizing the “virtuous wife and good mother”. These measures sought to emancipate the female body, enlighten women’s minds and redefine gender roles—all aligned with nationalist reform goals. Informed by Michel Foucault’s biopolitics, Nira Yuval-Davis’ gender-nation relations and Judith Butler’s gender performativity theory, this study argues that Liang’s reforms—though freeing women from traditional constraints—also placed their bodies and minds under state control. While ending foot-binding and early marriage liberated women physically, it subjected them to the modernizing state’s biopolitical interests. Women’s education, though transformative, was designed mainly to develop vocational skills rather than foster autonomy. The “virtuous wife and good mother” ideal ultimately reinforced maternal ideals within a nationalist narrative, revealing a deep adherence to traditional gender ethics. This reflects the complex social, historical and cultural contexts of the cultural transformation of late Qing and its multiple influences on Liang’s feminist perspectives that are full of contradictions, conflicts and theoretical tensions. Submission: 30/6/2025 – Decision: 20/8/2025 - Revision: 20/9/2025 – Publication: 6/10/2025.