hard problem of consciousness
hard PROB-lem uv KON-shus-ness
/hɑːrd ˈprɒbləm ɒv ˈkɒnʃəsnɛs/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
The philosophical challenge of explaining why and how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experience — why there is 'something it is like' to be a conscious creature; named to contrast with the 'easy problems' of explaining cognitive functions and behaviour, which seem tractable in principle through neuroscience
History and origin
Coined by philosopher David Chalmers in his 1995 paper 'Facing Up to the Problem of Consciousness'; considered one of the most intractable problems in science and philosophy
Examples
- The hard problem of consciousness asks why a complete physical explanation of perception would still leave unexplained why seeing feels like anything at all.
- Many neuroscientists believe the hard problem will eventually dissolve as brain science advances; Chalmers disagrees.
Synonyms: the explanatory gap (Levine), the mind-body problem (informal)
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