Ontology of inner-body sensations in the focus of fundamental and applied research
Семиотические исследования October 27, 2025 Magomet N. Atakuev
Interoceptive sensations—inner-body feelings—have recently become a distinct subject of philosophical inquiry as naturalistic theories of phenomenal consciousness expand with new empirical data and require philosophical analysis. The concept of interoception has shifted meaning across cognitive science and philosophy of consciousness due to methodological constraints of different approaches. This article argues that the concepts of "interoception" and "qualia" are complementary in the ontology of phenomenal consciousness, showing that how we conceptualize inner-body experience depends on the framework used. The analysis traces the formation of the interoception concept and identifies causes of semantic shifts in its content.