Un approccio pragmatico al "problema reale" della coscienza

A pragmatic, experimental methodology based on a two-dimensional neurocognitive approach is described to study consciousness by focusing on the real problem—empirically observable mechanisms—rather than the hard problem of epistemic and phenomenological features. The hierarchical relationship between wakefulness (level) and awareness (content) is proposed to explain both the unity and phenomenal variety of consciousness. However, studies on sleep, REM phase, and nightmares may challenge the strong version of this relationship. The question is raised whether a two-dimensional perspective suffices to define all objective features of consciousness, or a three-dimensional one is needed.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Despite the theoretical and epistemological complexities involved in dealing with the phenomenon of consciousness, the author describes defines a pragmatic and experimental methodology, based on a two-dimensional neurocognitive approach. Indeed, in order to avoid the hard problem of consciousness, it would be better to focus on the real problem, i.e. on mechanisms that can be empirically observed, leaving out all of the epistemic and phenomenological features of conscious states. The idea of a hierarchical relationship between the level (wakefulness) and the content (awareness) of consciousness could give rise to an interpretation which justifies both the unity and, at the same time, the phenomenal variety of consciousness. However, studies on sleep, REM phase and nightmares might challenge at least the strong version of this hypothetical relationship between different features of consciousness. Furthermore, it is important to consider whether a two-dimensional perspective, rather than a three-dimensional one, would be sufficient to exhaustively define all the objective features of consciousness.