Negro, Niccolo and Mudrik, Liad (2025) Testing for consciousness beyond consensus cases. [Preprint]
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Abstract
This chapter addresses the development of tests for consciousness (C-tests), defined as any protocol or methodology devised to detect specific properties that, if present, would justify higher credence in the belief that the system under test is phenomenally conscious. Though inherently defeasible, C-tests are vital for reducing epistemic uncertainty, balancing ethical and practical considerations regarding the attribution of consciousness to systems like patients with disorders of consciousness, non-human animals, and artificial systems. In this chapter, we first present a taxonomy of current available C-tests, describing how they rely on specific neural and/or psychological properties to reduce uncertainty about the presence of consciousness in various target systems. Second, we clarify the notion of phenomenal consciousness as the target of C-tests, delineating the limits of C-tests in being able to capture it. Third, we address the question of whether a well-established theory of consciousness and/or pre-theoretical intuitions are necessary for validation of C-tests. Fourth, we evaluate several inferential strategies to justify extrapolations of consciousness from consensus to non-consensus cases. Finally, we conclude by describing the iterative natural kind approach as a multidimensional method that integrates multiple tests with weighted evidence. This model would provide probabilistic assessments of consciousness across different populations, offering a more reliable framework for addressing non-consensus cases and providing a valuable aid for practical decision-making.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Keywords: | Tests for consciousness; Consciousness Science; Theories of Consciousness | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Consciousness |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Niccolo Negro | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 25 Apr 2025 13:16 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 25 Apr 2025 13:16 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 25164 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Consciousness |
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| Date: | April 2025 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/25164 |
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