Consciousness science as a marketplace of rationalizations
Abstract
In consciousness science, theoretical predictions are often untestable, such as claims about phenomenal consciousness in other beings. This evidential underdetermination, in combination with the perceived moral significance of consciousness, puts consciousness science at risk of becoming a marketplace of rationalizations: a field that produces theories that reaffirm social practices and conventions.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Scientific Research and Philosophical Inquiry
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Behavioral and Brain Sciences
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Volume
- 49
- Pages
- e184–e184
- Publication date
- 1 January 2026
- Language
- EN