Consciousness Without Content: A Look at Evidence and Prospects.
Front Psychol August 7, 2020 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01992 via PubMed Central
Summary
The possibility of consciousness without content—experiences lacking objects, thoughts, or sensory qualities—is examined through existing evidence and theoretical prospects. The work reviews arguments and findings from philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to assess whether such states occur, considering cases like meditative absorption or certain pathological conditions. It evaluates the strength of evidence and outlines future research directions, concluding that while intriguing, the case for contentless consciousness remains inconclusive and requires further investigation.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The evidence for consciousness without content is suggestive but not conclusive, warranting further empirical and conceptual study. |
Abstract
Consciousness Without Content: A Look at Evidence and Prospects.