An integrative pluralistic approach to phenomenal consciousness

Conscious experience and selfhood depend on many mechanisms operating at different levels of space, time, and complexity. These include the global workspace for conscious information, the role of action in self-awareness, and social and narrative influences. The authors argue that phenomenal experience likely relies on all these levels simultaneously. They propose two challenges: investigating the sustained dynamics of phenomenal experience and understanding how multi-scale cognitive processes interact to produce its richness. They do not aim to solve the hard problem of consciousness but contend that any solution must account for this pluralistic nature.

Study at a glance

Abstract

We review theories and empirical research on underlying mechanisms of selfhood, awareness, and conscious experience. The mechanisms that have been identified for these phenomena are many and multifarious, lying at many levels of space and time, and complexity and abstractness. Proposals have included the global workspace for conscious information, action and its centrality to self awareness, the role for social information and narrative, and more. We argue that phenomenal experience, whatever it “really is,” is probably dependent upon all of these levels simultaneously. We end with two challenges for consciousness research. Both are couched in terms of the dynamics of phenomenal experience. The first is to investigate the sustained dynamics of phenomenal experience; the second is to unveil the way that multi-scale processes in the cognitive system interact to produce that richness of experience. We do not aim to solve the hard problem, but argue that any solution will require this plural characteristic.