At the heart of the quest to unravel consciousness lie varying schools of thought, each offering distinct frameworks on how subjective experience emerges. The biological perspective emphasizes the brain’s neural networks, proposing that consciousness arises from complex interactions between neurons and synaptic activities. Meanwhile, the philosophical standpoint debates the intrinsic nature of consciousness, focusing on qualia- the individual instances of subjective, conscious experience. These divergent views underscore the complexity of defining consciousness strictly through physical or metaphysical terms.

Several key theories dominate the landscape, often overlapping yet distinctly interpreting the phenomenon:

  • Global Workspace Theory: Suggests that consciousness results from information being broadcasted across various brain regions,…