Neuroscience is pre-paradigmatic. Consciousness is why

Neuroscience lacks a unifying theoretical framework, remaining pre-paradigmatic in the Kuhnian sense despite methodological advances. The essay argues that consciousness should serve as the missing organizing principle, analogous to evolution in biology. Evidence of reproducibility failures in neuroimaging and the field's reliance on 'cool' rather than fundamental findings supports this call to place consciousness at the center of neuroscience.

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Abstract

This essay argues that neuroscience remains pre-paradigmatic in the Kuhnian sense, lacking a unifying theoretical framework despite impressive methodological advances. The author contends that consciousness is the missing organising principle, analogous to evolution in biology. Drawing on evidence of reproducibility failures in neuroimaging and the field's reliance on 'cool' rather than fundamental findings, the piece calls for placing consciousness at the centre of neuroscience.