Consciousness science: where are we, where are we going, and what if we get there?
Frontiers in Science October 30, 2025 Axel Cleeremans, L. Mudrik, A. Seth 17 citations
Understanding the biophysical basis of consciousness remains a major challenge for 21st-century science, made more pressing by advances in artificial intelligence. This article reviews recent developments in the scientific study of consciousness and considers future directions. It highlights novel approaches that may facilitate breakthroughs, including greater attention to theory development, adversarial collaborations, a focus on the phenomenal character of conscious experiences, and new methodologies and ecological experimental designs. The authors explore what success in consciousness science may look like, emphasizing clinical, ethical, societal, and scientific implications. Progress will reshape how we see ourselves and our relationship to AI and the natural world, usher in new medical interventions, and inform discussions on nonhuman animal welfare and ethical concerns around the beginning and end of human life.