Machine Consciousness and the Global Workspace Theory
MohammadHossein Manuel Haqiqatkhah
The Global Workspace Theory (GWT) is a promising neurocognitive model of consciousness that has received substantial philosophical and empirical support. This dissertation examines GWT from a mechanistic perspective and assesses its potential for machine consciousness (MC). It reviews philosophical approaches to consciousness, the history of MC, and neural correlates of consciousness. Two computational implementations of GWT—IDA and LIDA—are discussed in relation to MC goals. The dissertation argues that GWT-based architectures are immune to the Frame Problem, a philosophical challenge in MC, and that GWT can 'solve' the Frame Problem, with implications for MC and the computational theory of mind.