4. The Measurement of Consciousness
Human and Machine Consciousness March 7, 2018 DOI: 10.11647/obp.0107.04 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMeasuring consciousness via first-person reports raises concerns about their reliability, the possibility of non-reportable consciousness, and the causal closure of the physical world. The chapter addresses these by outlining assumptions that enable consciousness measurement: first, identifying systems believed to be conscious, then making further assumptions to ensure accurate measurement in those systems.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that measuring consciousness requires first identifying systems believed to be conscious and then making further assumptions to ensure accurate measurement. |
Abstract
Scientists measure consciousness through first-person reports, which raises problems about the reliability of first-person reports, the possibility of non-reportable consciousness and the causal closure of the physical world. The fourth chapter addresses these issues by making assumptions that explain how consciousness can be measured. First, we need to identify the systems that we believe are conscious. Then we need to make other assumptions to ensure that consciousness can be accurately measured in these systems