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Theories of consciousness are solutions in need of problems

Fleming, SM; (2021) Theories of consciousness are solutions in need of problems. Cognitive Neuroscience , 12 (2) pp. 86-88. 10.1080/17588928.2020.1841744. Green open access

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Abstract

Doerig et al. point out a number of shortcomings with existing theories of consciousness and argue they should be systematically constrained by empirical data. In this commentary I suggest a further constraint - the potential functions of (the contents of) consciousness. One such candidate function in humans is the social sharing of reportable mental states. The social function of consciousness provides a general framework within which to understand the evolution and neurobiology of conscious awareness.

Type: Article
Title: Theories of consciousness are solutions in need of problems
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2020.1841744
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1080/17588928.2020.1841744
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
Keywords: computation, consciousness, social function
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Experimental Psychology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10114850
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