Explanation in the science of consciousness: From the neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) to the difference makers of consciousness (DMCs)
Philosophy and the Mind Sciences December 30, 2020 C. Klein, J. Hohwy, T. Bayne 54 citations
The search for neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) is a central framework in consciousness science, often praised for its metaphysical neutrality. However, this framework implicitly assumes a specific model of consciousness—the Lite-Brite model—whose plausibility is an open question, making the NCC framework structurally biased. As an alternative, the authors propose a Difference-Maker framework that searches for difference makers of consciousness (DMCs) instead of mere correlates. Drawing on interventionist ideas in philosophy of science, they argue that shifting to DMCs would alter both experimental practice and how existing results are interpreted, offering a more neutral and productive approach.