What Is Consciousness? Integrated Information vs. Inference

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Mind
• Cognitive Science
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Naturalistic accounts of consciousness require compatibility with scientific descriptions.
• Integrated Information Theory (IIT) equates consciousness with intrinsic causal power.
• IIT faces challenges explaining qualitative and intentional aspects of consciousness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate consciousness as inference theories, like the Living Mirror theory.
• To synthesize IIT with inference-based theories.
• To propose a novel framework for understanding consciousness.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of existing theories of consciousness.
• Comparative evaluation of Integrated Information Theory and Living Mirror theory.
• Development of a synthesized perspective based on self-organization and inference.

Main Results:

• Consciousness as inference theories address IIT's limitations, particularly for perception.
• Self-organizing systems require high integration for consciousness.
• Consciousness is understood as dependent on integrated information and the process of inference.

Conclusions:

• A unified view posits consciousness as inference within integrated, self-organizing systems.
• This framework enhances understanding of consciousness's qualitative and intentional dimensions.
• Consciousness is fundamentally linked to a system's inferential processing and information integration.