Criteria for an effective theory of consciousness and some preliminary attempts.

Summary

A hierarchy of descriptions in physical sciences can help establish a rigorous scientific theory of consciousness by deriving causal relationships at different levels, from general entities to simpler ones. The study discusses access and phenomenal consciousness, detailing causal relationships in perception, memory, and skill learning, and extends these to physiological and neural levels. It also reviews current consciousness models' ability to support this modular hierarchy and compares two specific models with strong capabilities.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In the physical sciences a rigorous theory is a hierarchy of descriptions in which causal relationships between many general types of entity at a phenomenological level can be derived from causal relationships between smaller numbers of simpler entities at more detailed levels. The hierarchy of descriptions resembles the modular hierarchy created in electronic systems in order to be able to modify a complex functionality without excessive side effects. Such a hierarchy would make it possible to establish a rigorous scientific theory of consciousness. The causal relationships implicit in definitions of access consciousness and phenomenal consciousness are made explicit, and the corresponding causal relationships at the more detailed levels of perception, memory, and skill learning described. Extension of these causal relationships to physiological and neural levels is discussed. The general capability of a range of current consciousness models to support a modular hierarchy which could generate these causal relationships is reviewed, and the specific capabilities of two models with good general capabilities are compared in some detail.