From Consciousness to Integrated Information, and Back

Abstract

We have come to a standstill when it comes to understanding and the investigation of consciousness. Whether consciousness exists or not, how it presents itself in the world, and how it operates in it. In this master’s thesis, I will discuss why the Hard Problem of consciousness exists by looking at some prominent theories of consciousness (substance dualism, eliminativism, and property dualism). Looking at how these theories present the metaphysical and ontological principles of consciousness, and the reasons why their understanding of the phenomenon have problems. Secondly, I will explore Integrated Information Theory (IIT) and explore it as a possible solution to the Hard Problem. My working hypothesis is that IIT, just like its predecessors, cannot solve the Hard Problem of consciousness. So, thirdly I will show the reasons why this is the case and present some reasons why we need to rethink our methods for understanding consciousness. To summarize, my master’s thesis will be an exploration of the thesis question: Is Integrated Information Theory a solution to the Hard Problem of consciousness? To do this, my thesis will try to answer the following three research questions: Chapter 1: What are the problems with consciousness which add up to the Hard Problem of consciousness? Chapter 2: What is Integrated Information Theory, and how does it attempt to solve the Hard Problem? Chapter 3: Why is it the case that Integrated Information Theory does not solve the Hard Problem of consciousness?