Home / Archives / No. 2 (2022) / Philosophy and Science Evolutionary Approach to Consciousness in Modern Philosophy and Interdisciplinary Studies
Voprosy filosofii January 1, 2022 I. Kanaev, E. Dryaeva 4 citations
Consciousness remains poorly defined in modern science. This review examines major philosophical and cognitive-science approaches, with special attention to the Russian activity-based tradition that situates consciousness in interaction with the world and culture. Drawing on recent anthropology and neuroscience, the authors argue that human consciousness is distinct from other forms of subjective reality found in other species. They propose defining human consciousness as the capacity to control one's actions at the level of intentions, a capacity that must be acquired during life. This definition distinguishes human consciousness from other subjective realities and suggests an evolutionary trajectory, providing a foundation for linking subjective states to neural activity.