An analogical abductive argument to assess fetal consciousness
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences July 6, 2026 DOI: 10.33735/phimisci.2026.12593 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Argument complex analysis Inference Analogy Abductive reasoning Analogical reasoning Epistemology Cognitive science |
| Key points | Argues that, given the best minimal model of adult human consciousness and available evidence about fetal brain architecture, analogical abduction supports the conclusion that fetuses at the end of the second trimester are probably not conscious. |
Abstract
Analogical abduction is a form of reasoning that combines analogical analysis with inference to the best explanation to address the epistemological problem of other consciousnesses—that is, what justifies our ascriptions of consciousness to other entities? In this paper, I apply analogical abduction to the case of fetal consciousness, focusing on fetuses at the end of the second trimester. I present a three-step recipe for constructing analogical abductive arguments and I apply it to this specific case. I argue that, given the best minimal model of adult human consciousness and the available evidence about fetal brain architecture, analogical abduction supports the conclusion that fetuses at the end of the second trimester are probably not conscious. Beyond this, the paper illustrates both the promise and the limitations of analogical abduction as a theory-light tool for discovering consciousness across diverse populations.