How Consciousness Works
Dreams, Jokes, and Songs July 31, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/9780198962373.003.0002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that conscious experiences result from neural mechanisms—specifically representation, binding, coherence, and competition—and that interactions within neural systems produce qualitative novelties through a process the author calls 'recurring emergence'. Proposes that conscious experiences such as smell and hunger serve evolutionary functions that enhance biological fitness, and contends that consciousness is a neural product rather than a mystical, dualist, or panpsychist phenomenon. |
Abstract
Abstract This chapter describes the mechanisms behind conscious experiences, emphasizing the Neural Binding and Coherence (NBC) theory. It explores how neural representation, binding, coherence, and competition interact to create conscious phenomena. Using smell, hunger, loneliness, and self-awareness as examples, the chapter illustrates how these mechanisms contribute to component consciousness and compound experiences. The concept of ‘recurring emergence’ is central, highlighting how interactions within neural systems produce qualitative novelties like conscious states. The chapter also examines evolutionary functions, explaining how conscious experiences, such as smell aiding survival or hunger driving action, enhance biological fitness. Through detailed analyses, it connects abstract concepts like self-awareness to neural processes, arguing for consciousness as a product of neural mechanisms, in contrast to mystical, dualist, or panpsychist explanations.