Explaining Consciousness: A (Very) Different Approach to the “Hard Problem”

This article addresses what Chalmers called the “hard problem” of explaining consciousness — the problem of experience — in the context of a mediation brain theory in which consciousness is a fundamental feature of physical matter. It presents a novel explanation of how mind-to-brain transmission operates in a way that accounts for the existence of conscious experience. The article explains what is meant by a protoconsciousness inherent in things, its properties and genesis, and how this consciousness accumulates. How consciousness inherent in matter relates to a range of personal identity issues is also discussed. Bold scientific hypotheses and even bolder metaphysical theories are needed to advance the present state of discussion of the problem of how and why brain activity is accompanied by conscious experience.