Self-Consciousness
May 21, 2026 DOI: 10.4324/9781003568438-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Scope computer science Focus optics Conjunction astronomy Position finance Reflection computer programming Epistemology Cognitive science Order exchange Work physics |
| Key points | 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’.