The assumptions that restrain us from understanding consciousness
arXiv Preprint Archive June 26, 2025 preprint
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Q-bio.nc Consciousness research Science of consciousness Mind science Understanding consciousness Scientific re-evaluation Paradigm shift Scientific critique New scientific approaches Research methodology Cognitive phenomena Internal experience Subjective experience Mental processes Mind's intricacies Quantitative biology Computational neuroscience Systems biology |
| Key points | Argues that the science of consciousness may need to revise assumptions about neural correlates at the level of spiking responses and the computational nature of consciousness, proposing that research could benefit from studying internal changes such as aha-moments. |
Abstract
The science of consciousness has been successful over the last decades. Yet, it seems that some of the key questions remain unanswered. Perhaps, as a science of consciousness, we cannot move forward using the same theoretical commitments that brought us here. It might be necessary to revise some assumptions we have made along the way. In this piece, I offer no answers, but I will question some of these fundamental assumptions. We will try to take a fresh look at the classical question about the neural and explanatory correlates of consciousness. A key assumption is that neural correlates are to be found at the level of spiking responses. However, perhaps we should not simply take it for granted that this assumption holds true. Another common assumption is that we are close to understanding the computations underlying consciousness. I will try to show that computations related to consciousness might be far more complex than our current theories envision. There is little reason to think that consciousness is an abstract computation, as traditionally believed. Furthermore, I will try to demonstrate that consciousness research could benefit from investigating internal changes of consciousness, such as aha-moments. Finally, I will ask which theories the science of consciousness really needs.