# Consciousness Consciousness is subjective experience—the "what it is like" quality of mental states ([[Thomas Nagel]]). It encompasses awareness, perception, thought, and the felt quality of experience ([[Qualia]]). [[David Chalmers]] distinguished the "easy problems" (explaining cognitive functions) from the "hard problem" (why there is subjective experience at all). This remains one of the deepest puzzles in [[Philosophy of Mind]]. Major positions include: [[Dualism]] (mind and body are separate), physicalism (consciousness is physical), [[Functionalism]] (mental states defined by function), and panpsychism (consciousness is fundamental). [[Daniel Dennett]] argues consciousness is an illusion created by brain processes; [[Thomas Nagel]] and Chalmers argue it's irreducible. [[Patricia Churchland]] advocates for neuroscientific explanation. ## Major Positions | Position | Claim | |----------|-------| | **Physicalism** | Consciousness is entirely physical | | **[[Dualism]]** | Mind and body are separate | | **[[Functionalism]]** | Defined by causal role | | **Panpsychism** | Consciousness is fundamental | ## References - Chalmers, D. (1996). *The Conscious Mind* - Dennett, D. (1991). *Consciousness Explained* ## Related - [[Philosophy of Mind]] - [[Qualia]] - [[David Chalmers]] - [[Thomas Nagel]] - [[Daniel Dennett]] - [[Dualism]] - [[Functionalism]]