Open AccessWhat is a global state of consciousness?
Author(s) -
Andy Kenneth Mckilliam
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
philosophy and the mind sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2699-0369
DOI - 10.33735/phimisci.2020.ii.58
Subject(s) - consciousness , altered state , state (computer science) , construct (python library) , neural correlates of consciousness , cognitive science , psychology , epistemology , sociology , computer science , neuroscience , cognition , philosophy , algorithm , programming language
The notion of a global state (or level) of consciousness is an increasingly important construct in the science of consciousness. However, exactly what a global state of consciousness is remains poorly understood. In this paper I offer an account of global states of consciousness as consciousness-related capacity modulations. On this view global states are not themselves phenomenal states – they are not occurring experiences. Rather, they are states that specify which of a creature’s overall consciousness-related capacities are currently online. Given that the search for the neural correlates of consciousness (NCC), as it is currently conceived, is the search for the neural basis of occurrent experiences, the NCC framework is incapable of revealing the neural basis of global states. As such, a mature science of consciousness will need to move beyond the search for NCCs, as that project is currently conceived.