I Think, Therefore I Am. I Think.

I Think, Therefore I Am. I Think.

Marcelo Gleiser

While the debate rages on, Chalmers recently published a new paper suggesting an über-problem of consciousness, that he calls the “Meta Problem of Consciousness.” Essentially, the meta-problem is why we ask questions about the problem of consciousness. What is it about our kind of consciousness that makes us puzzle about its nature? In a sense, this is related to the easy problems, given that it is connected with behavior. The meta problem links the three problems of consciousness in an organic whole. For example, would we now say that only a fully-developed consciousness is able to puzzle about its existence? Is it at this level of self-awareness that we would credit an AI with consciousness?

Chalmers suggests that the meta problem is amenable to scientific inquiry and carefully considers a few avenues for its empirical study. I hope colleagues in mind studies will take this seriously.

Perhaps, after thousands of years of speculation, the effort will shed some light on the mystery of consciousness. Perhaps.