<p>It seems to me that many people know for themselves some extraordinary things about consciousness but rare are the people that can provide a definition of it. I have never met two people providing the same definition of consciousness (I never talked with specialist of the field though but only to general and evolutionary biologists).</p>

<p>Is there any, globally accepting definition of consciousness in cognitive science? What is it? If not, can you please provide a little review of the definitions that are most often used in scientific research. Critics for each definitions are welcome.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-16T16:24:40.057Z
I think [this question](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/987/29) might be of interest you.
Artem Kaznatcheev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-16T17:52:42.193Z
[This one](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/5275/how-can-machine-possibly-possess-consciousness-if-computation-is-a-human-idea) too.
Keegan Keplinger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-16T18:12:50.590Z
I highly suggest you look into the phenomenon of people with split brain syndrome. Their two hemispheres are completely separated and each part of the brain is unaware of what the other side is doing. We are just parts put together. Some people lack certain parts, but can still function and have "consciousness". I would say it is the state of our brain. The sum of all its configurations and networks (memories, personality, behaviors).
Klik
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-16T18:17:27.413Z
@Klik [that question](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/40/29) has been asked and answered here already. In [my opinion](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/990/29) that question (as with most questions on consciousness) presupposes the naive idea of a Cartesian ego.
Artem Kaznatcheev
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-16T18:41:55.063Z
@ArtemKaznatcheev I agree that consciousness cannot be separated, I think the split brain syndrome studies support this concept very well. What I find most interesting about consciousness is the idea of it. It presupposes the idea of being able to choose and quantum mechanics has never been able to disprove this--I'm referring to the delayed choice and quantum eraser variations of the double slit experiment.
Klik
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-16T22:00:52.557Z
@Klik please don't talk about quantum mechanics and consciousness or [free will](http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0604079), especially if you don't have a deep grapsp of both (I know I don't, although I have a research level grasp of quantum mechanics). If you are interested in this seriously, then I recommend looking at [Scott Aaronson's essay](http://arxiv.org/abs/1306.0159) since he is one of the few people qualified enough in quantum info and yet careful on the philosophical aspects of the question.
Artem Kaznatcheev
<consciousness>
Definitions of consciousness
Remi.b
# Definitions of consciousness

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-16)

It seems to me that many people know for themselves some extraordinary things about consciousness but rare are the people that can provide a definition of it. I have never met two people providing the same definition of consciousness (I never talked with specialist of the field though but only to general and evolutionary biologists).

Is there any, globally accepting definition of consciousness in cognitive science? What is it? If not, can you please provide a little review of the definitions that are most often used in scientific research. Critics for each definitions are welcome.

**Tags:** consciousness

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think [this question](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/987/29) might be of interest you.  
> **username_2**: [This one](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/5275/how-can-machine-possibly-possess-consciousness-if-computation-is-a-human-idea) too.  
> **username_3**: I highly suggest you look into the phenomenon of people with split brain syndrome. Their two hemispheres are completely separated and each part of the brain is unaware of what the other side is doing. We are just parts put together. Some people lack certain parts, but can still function and have "consciousness". I would say it is the state of our brain. The sum of all its configurations and networks (memories, personality, behaviors).  
> **username_1**: @username_3 [that question](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/q/40/29) has been asked and answered here already. In [my opinion](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/a/990/29) that question (as with most questions on consciousness) presupposes the naive idea of a Cartesian ego.  
> **username_3**: @ArtemKaznatcheev I agree that consciousness cannot be separated, I think the split brain syndrome studies support this concept very well. What I find most interesting about consciousness is the idea of it. It presupposes the idea of being able to choose and quantum mechanics has never been able to disprove this--I'm referring to the delayed choice and quantum eraser variations of the double slit experiment.  
> **username_1**: @username_3 please don't talk about quantum mechanics and consciousness or [free will](http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0604079), especially if you don't have a deep grapsp of both (I know I don't, although I have a research level grasp of quantum mechanics). If you are interested in this seriously, then I recommend looking at [Scott Aaronson's essay](http://arxiv.org/abs/1306.0159) since he is one of the few people qualified enough in quantum info and yet careful on the philosophical aspects of the question.  

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## 0 answers

