How to discover the natural kind of consciousness under population shifts
PsyArXiv April 18, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/hxcyf_v1 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe authors argue that discovering the natural kind of consciousness is complicated by population shifts—variations in conscious states across different groups or contexts. They propose that standard methods for identifying natural kinds may fail when the target phenomenon varies systematically across populations. The paper contends that researchers must account for these shifts to avoid misidentifying the fundamental nature of consciousness. A revised methodological approach is suggested to align the search for natural kinds with the actual diversity of conscious experiences.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Argues that population shifts pose a challenge to discovering the natural kind of consciousness and that methodological adjustments are needed. |
Abstract
How to discover the natural kind of consciousness under population shifts