Self-Consciousness
May 21, 2026 DOI: 10.4324/9781003568438-6 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe chapter argues that the vast literature on consciousness since Nagel (1974) makes comprehensive synthesis impractical. It notes that artificial intelligence and artificial agents with neurocircuits have expanded the debate on consciousness's nature, location, and emergence. A discussion of higher order theory and neural correlates leads to the claim that 'experience is impossible without an experiencer', shifting focus to the 'experimenter' as the central subject of inquiry.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Scope computer science Focus optics Conjunction astronomy Position finance |
| Key finding | Argues that the proliferation of consciousness studies and new AI developments make comprehensive summary unfeasible, and proposes that the 'experimenter' is the essential focus for understanding consciousness. |
Abstract
If we were to place all the pages written on consciousness after Nagel’s 1974 work side by side, we would end up with a strip about 200 km long. Therefore, it seems unfeasible to attempt to summarise, synthesise, quote, or take a position in a single chapter or paper without inadvertently leaving something or someone out. Moreover, the advent of AI (artificial intelligence) – in conjunction with the evolution of AAs (artificial agents) furnished with neurocircuits (both artificial and biological) – has given rise to a series of investigations into the nature of consciousness, its location, and the mechanisms through which it emerges. Consequently, the scope of this debate has further expanded. A brief discussion of HOT (higher order theory) and research into the neural correlates of consciousness paves the way for a reflection that emphasises the awareness that ‘experience is impossible without an experiencer’. In this chapter, the focus is on the ‘experimenter’.