Alternative Theories of Consciousness

A critical examination of neuroscientific and philosophical theories of consciousness finds that leading models—global workspace, information integration, and predictive processing—explain some aspects but neglect qualitative experience and fail to offer a comprehensive account. Philosophical perspectives such as dualism, panpsychism, and functionalism are critiqued as speculative and empirically unsupported. The chapter proposes 'coherent materialism' as a refined mind–body approach emphasizing time, space, energy, and historical constraints. The Neural Representation, Binding, and Coherence (NBC) theory is presented as superior, integrating insights from other theories while addressing their shortcomings and providing robust explanations and predictions about conscious experience.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter critically examines leading neuroscientific and philosophical theories of consciousness, comparing them to the Neural Representation, Binding, and Coherence (NBC) theory. It evaluates prominent neuroscientific models, including global workspace, information integration, and predictive processing, highlighting their strengths in addressing aspects of consciousness but identifying significant limitations, such as neglecting qualitative experiences and failing to explain consciousness comprehensively. Philosophical perspectives, including dualism, panpsychism, and functionalism, are critiqued for their speculative nature and lack of empirical grounding. The chapter proposes ‘coherent materialism’ as a refined approach to the mind–body problem, emphasizing time, space, energy, and historical constraints. By integrating insights from various theories while addressing their shortcomings, NBC emerges as a superior theory, offering robust explanations and predictions about the mechanisms underpinning conscious experience.