Critical Analysis of Theories of Consciousness

Consciousness has many proposed properties, but they are often criticized as untestable. This overview reviews influential views on the properties of consciousness, framing them in terms of empirical testability in physiological terms. While these properties are subjective by nature, they can gain objectivity through consensus agreement on their validity. The author first proposes a working definition of consciousness and related terms, then reviews a representative range of proposals about its properties, assessing each for testability. The goal is to avoid the criticisms of untestability that were leveled against 19th-century phenomenologists.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Many thinkers have provided analyses of the properties of consciousness, though not generally in the context of framing the putative properties in terms of their specific testability. To avoid the criticisms of untestability leveled against the 19th century phenomenologists, the goal of the present overview is to review influential views on the specific properties of consciousness in terms of empirical testability in physiological terms. Of course, the properties of consciousness are, of their nature, subjective, but they may gain a measure of objectivity by consensus agreement on their validity. After proposing a working definition of consciousness and related terms, a representative range of proposals as to its properties is reviewed and assessed in terms of the testability of the properties proposed.