New Research Challenging the Very Idea of the Mind
For centuries, philosophers and scientists have debated the nature of humanconsciousnesse the subjective experience of thoughts, feelings, and self-awareness. But a growing number of researchers now argue that consciousness may not be what it seems: one of those new researchers goes as far as to suggest that it is simply an elaborate illusion created by the brain.
The Illusion of Self-Awareness
Some cognitive scientists and neuroscientists claim that consciousness is not given to one, unified “self,” but is a collection of unconscious processes in the brain that come together to generate the illusion of a continuous, coherent experience. This process generates the illusion of a real person’s ongoing self-awareness.
Consciousness is like a “user interface,” created by the brain, says Dr. Michael Graziano, a neuroscience researcher at Princeton University. “The brain doesn’t reveal reality; rather, it constructs a simplified model of reality,” he adds. According to this perspective, what we regard as “free will” or “self” is merely the brain’s way of making sense of its operations.
The Brain’s Trickeries
Psychological and neuroscientific studies lend support to this claim. In experiments, it is found that decisions are made without one’s conscious awareness. A brain scan can predict subjects’ choices several seconds ahead of the conscious choice itself. So, it seems, what we label “making a decision” properly refers to a justification by the brain of an action that has already been initiated.
The same goes for certain phenomena such as change blindness—that is, the failure to detect major changes in the visual stimulus. And confabulation—where the brain makes up explanations for its actions—indicating that our perception of the world is terribly imperfect.
Is Free Will Illusory as Well?
What does it imply for free will if consciousness is an illusion? Some scientists, such as philosopher Daniel Dennett, argue that free will is compatible with this model—it is just not free will as we think of it. Others contend, such as neuroscientist Sam Harris, that free will is an illusion: all our actions and decisions are forcibly determined by prior causes over which we have no conscious control.
Humanity Implications
This view has very severe implications; if consciousness truly is an illusion, then the notions of identity, morality, and even legal responsibility will be challenged. Can a criminal truly be held accountable if his actions flowed from unconscious processes? What does this say about meaning and purpose in our lives?
Still, the illusion of consciousness remains one of the most active and useful phase codes. It gives us cues to explore the world, bond socially, and attribute meaning to our existence, even if that meaning itself is an all-encompassing construct of the brain.
Conclusion: A Radical Rebuilding of the Mind
Whether or not consciousness counts as an illusion is still open for debate among philosophers. Yet this theory has gained far-reaching acceptance in the world of neuroscience and beyond. As studies unfold, we may go on to accept that those most intimate of experiences, thoughts, choices, and sense of self are not the way we think they are. They might just turn out to be the brain’s most gracious ways of ensuring that we remain anchored in a complicated world.
