The Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness as Pseudoscience

Integrated Information Theory (IIT) of consciousness is argued to be pseudoscientific because it fails to meet key demarcation criteria for science, such as falsifiability and empirical grounding. The theory's central claims, including its measure of consciousness (Φ), are shown to be untestable in practice and to generate predictions that are either vacuous or contradicted by existing evidence. The analysis concludes that IIT's reliance on a priori reasoning and its resistance to disconfirmation place it outside the boundaries of legitimate scientific inquiry, despite its popularity.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The Integrated Information Theory of Consciousness as Pseudoscience