Too soon to say what consciousness is
Behavioral and Brain Sciences 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x25103877 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Seth's attempt to connect life to consciousness via active inference and free energy minimization is one plausible hunch, but that it is too soon to determine whether it is the best account, since no one can yet say what really matters for consciousness or whether only living systems can instantiate the complexity needed for conscious feelings. |
Abstract
Abstract No one is in a position to say what really matters for consciousness, or whether only living systems can instantiate the complexity needed for conscious feelings. Seth’s attempt to connect life to consciousness through the mathematics of active inference and free energy minimization plays one hunch, but it is too soon to say whether it is the best hunch.