Defining Consciousness

Comments debate the definition of consciousness, whether it exists in others beyond oneself, distinctions from self-awareness, and its presence in humans, animals, machines, and potentially all matter.

📉 Falling 0.4x Science
5,117
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#2155
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
11
2008
28
2009
36
2010
20
2011
33
2012
61
2013
71
2014
134
2015
173
2016
244
2017
335
2018
295
2019
368
2020
412
2021
481
2022
572
2023
675
2024
724
2025
432
2026
12

Keywords

consciousness conscious illusion awareness experience dog unconscious ant thought experiment nonsensical

Sample Comments

3np Aug 24, 2022 View on HN

Only for certain definitions of "consciousness". What's yours?

jbeninger Mar 29, 2024 View on HN

Wait, you have a conscious experience?

ZeroFries Oct 27, 2016 View on HN

You're conflating self-awareness and consciousness. See my post below.

epgui Feb 8, 2023 View on HN

Are you defining consciousness?

jstanley Jun 1, 2025 View on HN

You can't tell if another being is conscious without being on the inside of it.

mensetmanusman Jun 7, 2019 View on HN

It's nonsensical to some, but not to others :) never forget the incredible capability of consciousness.

ursulets23 Jun 3, 2016 View on HN

I think It's all about what you think consciousness is... it all surrounds that...

DC1350 Mar 29, 2021 View on HN

I'm not even convinced that all people are conscious. That needs to be solved first

nxpnsv Mar 29, 2021 View on HN

How do we know anything is conscious but ourselves?

taneq Mar 15, 2017 View on HN

What do you think a consciousness is?