On the metaphysical foundations of naturalism in relation to consciousness
Интеллект. Инновации. Инвестиции November 1, 2025 E. V. Uskova
Naturalism, the philosophical position that prioritizes scientific knowledge, offers clear advantages for studying consciousness: it relies on science, treats consciousness as a natural phenomenon, applies strict scientific methods, and views the brain as its source. However, naturalistic theories face several unresolved difficulties, including the problem of qualia (the subjective, phenomenal aspects of experience), the failure to explain the consciousness-body (or consciousness-brain) relationship, the localization of consciousness, the unity of the self as a bearer of consciousness, and the ontological status of consciousness itself. The article examines whether metaphysics can be naturalized to include consciousness in a scientifically acceptable ontological picture, noting that naturalism's criteria of scientificity are often vague and its reductionist principle may strip the subject of its specificity.