Theory of Consciousness

Philosophy of mind, epistemology and cognitive science.

Artificial Intelligence
When AI Agents “Pay Attention”

Harry Haroutioun Haladjian Ph.D. on June 10, 2026

AI is appearing to be more “attentive” and developing “agency.” If this trend follows biological evolution, does it mean that AI will develop an artificial consciousness?

AI is appearing to be more “attentive” and developing “agency.” If this trend follows biological evolution, does it mean that AI will develop an artificial consciousness?

Attention
Conscious Attention as Agency

Carlos Montemayor Ph.D. on August 22, 2025

The subjective privacy of consciousness is insufficient to explain how we coordinate action. We succeed at action-coordination because we jointly attend to the world.

The subjective privacy of consciousness is insufficient to explain how we coordinate action. We succeed at action-coordination because we jointly attend to the world.

Attention
Hypostatic Attention

Carlos Montemayor Ph.D. on March 27, 2022

Attention patterns or protocols may be limited, yet attention is limitless with respect to the objects it can be directed to.

Attention patterns or protocols may be limited, yet attention is limitless with respect to the objects it can be directed to.

Attention
Finding Perspective on the First-Person Perspective

Harry Haroutioun Haladjian Ph.D. on August 30, 2021

While phenomenal consciousness is characterized by subjective experiences from a first-person perspective, current scientific theories of consciousness fail to address this topic.

While phenomenal consciousness is characterized by subjective experiences from a first-person perspective, current scientific theories of consciousness fail to address this topic.

Attention
What Is Phenomenal Consciousness?

Harry Haroutioun Haladjian Ph.D. on May 28, 2021

Sometimes the most obvious things are difficult to explain. In this post, we’ll try to clarify what cognitive scientists mean when they talk about “phenomenal consciousness.”

Sometimes the most obvious things are difficult to explain. In this post, we’ll try to clarify what cognitive scientists mean when they talk about “phenomenal consciousness.”

Attention
A Phenomenal Duplicate Talks to Her Zombie Twin

Carlos Montemayor Ph.D. on January 25, 2021

We pay attention to dialogues in conversation with others and ourselves. Here we present a dialogue that is difficult to classify between characters from previous posts.

We pay attention to dialogues in conversation with others and ourselves. Here we present a dialogue that is difficult to classify between characters from previous posts.

Cognition
Information Processing in Bacteria and Plants

Carlos Montemayor Ph.D. on May 10, 2019

Informavores are organisms that are driven to consume information. This not only includes humans but also simpler organisms like plants and bacteria.

Informavores are organisms that are driven to consume information. This not only includes humans but also simpler organisms like plants and bacteria.

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September 2026 magazine cover
September 2026
The Power of Enough

We’re all holding onto something we’re sure we can’t give up on, but research shows that letting go can boost our happiness a lot more than we might think.

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Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.

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