Reflections on Inner and Outer Silence and Consciousness Without Contents According to the Sphere Model of Consciousness
Patrizio Paoletti, Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan
Frontiers in Psychology August 12, 2020 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01807 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Silence Strengths and weaknesses Cognitive psychology Identification biology Cognitive science Aesthetics |
| Citations | 47 |
| Key points | Proposes that focusing attention on silence can be used as a paradigm to study consciousness without content, and introduces an extension of the Sphere Model of Consciousness with new definitions for identification and self-awareness. |
Abstract
In the current hypothesis paper, we propose that focusing attention on silence can be used as a paradigm conceptually similar to sensory deprivation, to study consciousness without content. We briefly overview recent influential models of consciousness and consider how they assess the relationship between consciousness and contents. After discussing the strengths and weaknesses of current models, we suggest an extension based on the Sphere Model of Consciousness (SMC) and introduce new definitions for identification and self-awareness as states of consciousness. We further compare Paoletti's theoretical model for the development of self with other influential models, highlighting similarities and differences. We conclude with a discussion of how attentional focus on silence can be empirically tested.