David Chalmers's Theory of Consciousness: Reassessing the Hard Problem in Contemporary Thought
Nandini Mishra
August 16, 2026 DOI: 10.64823/ijpeh.2601006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that Chalmers's distinction of the "Hard Problem" and his naturalistic dualism provide an indispensable framework for understanding consciousness, while exposing limitations in reductive materialism and contemporary scientific explanations. |
Abstract
The question of consciousness remains one of the most challenging issues in contemporary philosophy. David Chalmers has transformed the issue through his formulation of the "Hard Problem of Consciousness," which distinguishes subjective experience from cognitive and behavioral functions. Chalmers's philosophy of consciousness, focusing on the explanatory gap between physical processes and phenomenal experience. It analyzes reductive materialism, explores his concept of naturalistic dualism, and evaluates major criticisms from functionalist perspectives. The study continues to provide an indispensable framework for understanding consciousness and the limitations of contemporary scientific explanations. Keywords: Consciousness, Naturalistic Dualism, Philosophy of Mind, Phenomenal Experience Keywords: philosophy of mind; Keywords: Consciousness; Naturalistic Dualism; Phenomenal Experience
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