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Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology

Volume 190, August 2024, Pages 28-169
Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology

A landscape of consciousness: Toward a taxonomy of explanations and
implications

Author links open overlay panelRobert Lawrence Kuhn
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2023.12.003Get rights and
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Abstract

Diverse explanations or theories of consciousness are arrayed on a
roughly physicalist-to-nonphysicalist landscape of essences and
mechanisms. Categories: Materialism Theories (philosophical,
neurobiological, electromagnetic field, computational and
informational, homeostatic and affective, embodied and enactive,
relational, representational, language, phylogenetic evolution);
Non-Reductive Physicalism; Quantum Theories; Integrated Information
Theory; Panpsychisms; Monisms; Dualisms; Idealisms; Anomalous and
Altered States Theories; Challenge Theories. There are many
subcategories, especially for Materialism Theories. Each explanation
is self-described by its adherents, critique is minimal and only for
clarification, and there is no attempt to adjudicate among theories.
The implications of consciousness explanations or theories are
assessed with respect to four questions: meaning/purpose/value (if
any); AI consciousness; virtual immortality; and survival beyond
death. A Landscape of Consciousness, I suggest, offers perspective.

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Keywords

Consciousness
Mind-body problem
Materialism
Monism
Dualism
Idealism
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