What a "Landscape of Consciousness" Means for Neurology and Neuroscience.
Current neurology and neuroscience reports December 20, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-025-01471-1
Summary
Over 350 theories of consciousness have been cataloged in a new "Landscape," a cross-disciplinary taxonomy. This effort organizes diverse explanations, from Materialism's neurobiological and Identity theory approaches to Dualisms and Idealisms, reflecting the vast scope of Philosophy of mind. Materialism accounts for the largest share with 12 subcategories. This comprehensive view is crucial for addressing profound questions about identity, AI consciousness, and free will, demonstrating that understanding our conscious experience requires embracing expansive perspectives.
Abstract
To gather (almost) all (reasonable) theories of phenomenal consciousness, describe them neutrally (largely in the words of their authors), and organize them in a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary taxonomy of categories-"Landscape of Consciousness." Perhaps the process can encourage novel ways of thinking among medical (psychiatry/neurology) practitioners and neuroscientists. Landscape organizes more than 350 explanations of phenomenal consciousness across physicalist and non-physicalist traditions. There are 10 primary categories: Materialism. Non-Reductive Physicalism. Quantum & Dimensions. Information. Panpsychisms. Monisms. Dualisms. Idealisms. Anomalous & Altered States. Materialism, with the largest number of theories by far, has 12 subcategories: Philosophical. Eliminative/Illusionism. Neurobiological. Electromagnetic Field. Computational & Functionalism. Homeostatic & Affective. Embodied & Enactive. Relational. First-order. Higher-order. Language. Phylogenetic/Evolutionary. Representative theories are here summarized as (non-exhaustive) examples. The Landscape of Consciousness is a work-in-process-permanently. Two central theses: (i) understanding phenomenal consciousness at this point should not be restricted to selected ways of thinking or constrained by approved modes of knowing, but should rather seek expansive yet rational diversity, and (ii) issues of sentience, such as AI consciousness, virtual immortality, meaning/purpose, free will, life after death, etc., cannot be understood except in the light of particular theories of consciousness. Implications for psychiatry/neurology and neuroscience may be considered.