The problem of consciousness: cognitive naturalism and mysterianism
Bulletin of the Karaganda university. "History. Philosophy" series September 30, 2025 D. K. Kusbekov
Consciousness exists, but why remains unresolved. Two opposing philosophical camps—cognitive naturalism, which relies on evolutionary biology and neuroscience to explain consciousness scientifically, and New Mysterianism, which argues that the phenomenon is fundamentally unknowable by the human intellect—are examined. Neither provides a final answer, but their dialogue deepens understanding of the problem. Alternative approaches such as dualism, panpsychism, information theories, eliminativism, and phenomenology are also discussed. Recognizing consciousness's complexity requires combining empirical optimism with epistemological humility; new scientific paradigms integrating objective and subjective aspects of experience may be needed.