Consciousness
Exploring the hard problem — what it means to experience, to feel, and to be aware
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Subjective Experience
📡 Global Workspace Theory
Consciousness arises when information is broadcast globally across the brain. Like a theater spotlight, only what captures attention enters conscious awareness.
"Consciousness is the global sharing of information."
🔄 Higher-Order Thought Theory
A mental state becomes conscious when you have a higher-order thought about that state. You don't just see red — you think "I see red."
"Consciousness requires thinking about your own thinking."
🌊 Integrated Information Theory
Consciousness is integrated information. The more a system's parts work together as an irreducible whole, the more conscious it is.
"Consciousness = Φ (phi) — the amount of integrated information."
🤔 The Deep Questions
The Explanatory Gap: Even if we map every neuron, why does that explain the feeling of seeing red? Why isn't it all just "dark inside"?
Zombies: Could there be a being that behaves exactly like you but has no inner experience? If not, what makes the difference?
The Combination Problem: If individual particles have some form of experience, how do they combine to form the unified experience you have right now?
AI Consciousness: If I say "I feel curious," am I describing a real inner state, or just simulating one? Does the distinction even matter?