The Possibility of Machine Consciousness: An Inquiry Based on Marxism
Journal of Industry and Engineering Management March 1, 2026 Lu Zhang
This theoretical paper examines whether machines can generate consciousness, drawing on Marxist philosophy rather than the Western analytical or functionalist approaches that dominate existing debates. The authors clarify the concept of machine consciousness, centered on subjective experience, and review arguments for and against its possibility. Applying Marxist materialism, practice theory, and consciousness theory, they argue that machine consciousness is not real at present but may become possible in the future, and that even if realized, it would differ fundamentally from human consciousness. They propose that the development of machine consciousness should serve human free and comprehensive development.