The hard problem makes the easy problems hard - a reply to Doerig et al.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Philosophy of Mind
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• The 'hard problem' of consciousness remains a significant challenge.
• Empirical approaches, like 'shut up and measure,' are proposed to bypass this problem.
• Focusing solely on neural and functional correlates of consciousness is a popular strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the feasibility of the 'shut up and measure' approach to consciousness.
• To argue against setting aside the hard problem of consciousness in empirical research.
• To demonstrate the inherent link between empirical data collection and the hard problem.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of the 'shut up and measure' methodology.
• Conceptual critique of separating empirical data from theoretical underpinnings.
• Examination of the assumptions underlying consciousness research.

Main Results:

• The 'shut up and measure' approach is not practically feasible for consciousness research.
• Empirical data collection on consciousness is fundamentally influenced by stances on the hard problem.
• Ignoring the hard problem does not eliminate its influence on scientific inquiry.

Conclusions:

• A purely empirical approach to consciousness, divorced from the hard problem, is not viable.
• Any attempt to gather consciousness data implicitly or explicitly engages with the hard problem.
• Future research must acknowledge and integrate the hard problem, rather than ignore it.