Evaluating the explanatory power of the Conscious Turing Machine.
Asger Kirkeby-Hinrup, Jakob Stenseke, Morten Overgaard
Consciousness and Cognition September 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2024.103736 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Ctm Cognitive neuroscience Consciousness Explanatory power Turing machines |
| Key points | Argues that the Conscious Turing Machine model does not yet constitute progress in understanding consciousness across philosophy, cognitive neuroscience, and computation. |
Abstract
The recent "Conscious Turing Machine" (CTM) proposal offered by Manuel and Lenore Blum aims to define and explore consciousness, contribute to the solution of the hard problem, and demonstrate the value of theoretical computer science with respect to the study of consciousness. Surprisingly, given the ambitiousness and novelty of the proposal (and the prominence of its creators), CTM has received relatively little attention. We here seek to remedy this by offering an exhaustive evaluation of CTM. Our evaluation considers the explanatory power of CTM in three different domains of interdisciplinary consciousness studies: the philosophy of mind, cognitive neuroscience, and computation. Based on our evaluation in each of the target domains, at present, any claim that CTM constitutes progress is premature. Nevertheless, the model has potential, and we highlight several possible avenues of future research which proponents of the model may pursue in its development.
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Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- There and back again: Biological naturalism provides no new scientific progress on the matter of AI consciousness. Behavioral and Brain Sciences September 17, 2026
- Theories of Consciousness and the Selection Problem Kriterion – Journal of Philosophy June 17, 2026
- The multiple generator hypothesis of consciousness Neuroscience of Consciousness September 24, 2025
Cites 13
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- Consciousness without report: insights from summary statistics and inattention ‘blindness’ Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences July 30, 2018
- Consciousness explained or described? Neuroscience of Consciousness January 21, 2022
and 8 more in the library