The Physical Basis of Mental Life: A Perspective on the Nature of Consciousness
David L. Ryan
Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders 2022 DOI: 10.26502/jppd.2572-519x0159 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that consciousness remains a realm that eludes a definitive connection to the natural sciences, a difficulty captured by the phrase "the hard problem of consciousness," and that this reflects the limits of current knowledge rather than a hierarchy among disciplines. |
Abstract
Scientists have grappled with “the hard problem of consciousness” [4] for as long as there has been science. Certain realms and disciplines elude a definitive and conclusory nexus to what would, in the modern era, be called “hard Science”, meaning Physics, Chemistry and to a lesser degree, Biology. Consciousness is among these realms. By use of the term “hard science”, my intent is in no way to denigrate disciplines that might be considered outside of this definition, or to even make such a distinction at all, it is in fact quite the opposite, to simply underscore that these categorizations reflect the limitations of our knowledge, nothing else; thus the “hard problem of consciousness”.