Consciousness: the Holy Grail of Science
C. Musès
Kybernetes October 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1108/03684929610149693 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Proposes that consciousness includes not only cognitive awareness in sensory, imaginative, remembered, and dream contexts but also an awareness in all people that is not necessarily accessed by or immediately accessible to the conscious mind. Argues that consciousness, being primal and pervasive, is the "Holy Grail" of the scientific quest, and that its misunderstandings and confusions warrant global re-assessments, including of evolutionary theory. |
Abstract
Presents consciousness as not only cognitive awareness in sensory, imaginational, remembered and dream contexts, but also as the awareness in all of us that is not necessarily accessed by or immediately accessible only to the conscious mind. Sees consciousness, because of its primal and pervasive nature, as the Holy Grail of the scientific quest. Provides examples of how it can be misunderstood and exposed to sources of confusion. Discusses the resulting scenarios and considers global re‐assessments, including one of evolutionary theory.