Growing Confidence and Remaining Uncertainty About Animal Consciousness DOI Open Access
Louis N. Irwin

Qeios, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 26, 2024

While the study of consciousness has had a controversial history and, until recently, pessimistic prognosis, recent views within neuroscientific community suggest that maturing if incomplete scientific understanding is close at hand. The purpose this essay to specify major points on which in my opinion there widespread though not universal agreement, as proposed benchmarks for current state research across phylogenetic spectrum. Most published definitions boil down focus it process arising nervous system engaged with body and its environment, giving rise subjective (personal) experience. A broad consensus phenomenology sees consisting minimum (1) awarenessand focused attention, (2) unity perception, (3) qualitative variations content, (4) mental causation, (5) sense self. There also agreement substrate requires sizeable, complex systems organized into several hierarchical levels processing. Further insight gained by reconstructing evolution phenomenological experience ― most likely from multiple origins, hosted diversity brain architectures, diverging markedly different forms animal kingdom. However, three mysteries about remain unresolved are neurological correlates consciousness, apparent gap between mechanism, monitors activity admitted consciousness.

Язык: Английский

Emergence ex Machina: Correlates of Consciousness DOI Open Access
David Josef Herzog, Nitsa Herzog

Qeios, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 7(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 26, 2025

Consciousness is a phenomenon that justifiably attracts pensive attention. And despite centuries of contemplation and decades research, consciousness remains an elusive poorly defined matter. Its nature, composition, characteristics are hotly debated. The explanatory gap between phenomenal the functions neurobiological correlates considered hard problem. However, so-called “easy” problem, evolutionary biological emergence from underlying substrate, also not easily explainable. discussion about essence spreads far neurophysiology biology into fields quantum mechanics information theory. Old concepts panpsychism pre-eminence before material substrate have re-emerged in recent decades. Neopanpsychism idea potential on physical elemental basis, it expands realm astrophysical objects their networks with complex data production processing. Information theories include possibilities for any non-biological object to harbour proto-mental abilities if they fulfil minimal architectural informational requirements. “normal” grasp “realistic” world perception endure constant criticism leading physicists mathematicians. In this atmosphere, much easier claim platonic abstract ideas ability non-physical exist independently. It important re-evaluate main arguments focus practical efforts classical scientific research its elements, established metrics clear directions. There many which can shift approach hypothesis proving/disproving towards more scholastic nature inability investigate it. certainly has emerging stages, as we see living and, at same time, cannot be limited by one person, or possession challenge abiological fundamental questions require significant answer.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

0

Growing Confidence and Remaining Uncertainty About Animal Consciousness DOI Open Access
Louis N. Irwin

Qeios, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 26, 2024

While the study of consciousness has had a controversial history and, until recently, pessimistic prognosis, recent views within neuroscientific community suggest that maturing if incomplete scientific understanding is close at hand. The purpose this essay to specify major points on which in my opinion there widespread though not universal agreement, as proposed benchmarks for current state research across phylogenetic spectrum. Most published definitions boil down focus it process arising nervous system engaged with body and its environment, giving rise subjective (personal) experience. A broad consensus phenomenology sees consisting minimum (1) awarenessand focused attention, (2) unity perception, (3) qualitative variations content, (4) mental causation, (5) sense self. There also agreement substrate requires sizeable, complex systems organized into several hierarchical levels processing. Further insight gained by reconstructing evolution phenomenological experience ― most likely from multiple origins, hosted diversity brain architectures, diverging markedly different forms animal kingdom. However, three mysteries about remain unresolved are neurological correlates consciousness, apparent gap between mechanism, monitors activity admitted consciousness.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

2