​How to study consciousness as a natural phenomenon

Tim Bayne
Interviewed by Alessio Bucci and Matthieu Koroma

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keywords
 altered states of consciousness, global state of consciousness, levels of consciousness, multidimensional model, natural kind approach

doi: 10.34700/jwm7-9t64

Abstract
The field of the scientific study of consciousness has seen a flourishing of methodologies and theories. The debate over what defines consciousness and how we should study it is, however, yet to be settled. Philosopher Tim Bayne has proposed the “natural kind” approach, suggesting that consciousness properties should be empirically informed rather than defined a priori. Relying on the cross-talk between philosophy and empirical science, he proposes a cautious and integrative outlook that takes into account the diversity of the conscious phenomenon, defending a multidimensional model of conscious states.