Where is the asymmetry between intelligence and consciousness?
Stephen M Fleming, Nicholas Shea
Behavioral and Brain Sciences 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x25103476 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the target article's sharp contrast between intelligence and consciousness is premature because it rests on an overly narrow characterization of intelligence as input-to-output mappings; the authors contend that intelligence and consciousness are more tightly interwoven than that framing implies. |
Abstract
Abstract The target article draws a sharp contrast between intelligence and consciousness. We believe this contrast is premature and rests on an overly narrow characterisation of intelligence as abilities that can be exhaustively characterised as mappings from sensory inputs to behavioural outputs. Instead, we argue that the fortunes of intelligence and consciousness are interwoven more tightly than Seth’s framing implies.