The Consciousness Atlas is an interactive web app that visualizes more
than 450 theories of consciousness. It is based on Robert Lawrence
Kuhn's 2024 paper,
"A Landscape of Consciousness". The Atlas maps theories that address phenomenal consciousness - the
subjective feel of experience, such as the redness of red.
What the Atlas is
The Atlas is a visual reference built on Kuhn's taxonomy. It presents
the full set of theories at once so you can explore the field visually
and open any theory to read its entry, like an encyclopedia with
structured entries. Each theory entry shows a concise identity line,
conceptual ground, suggested mechanism, empirical notes, implications,
and sources.
Why this exists
Consciousness is studied across disciplines - neuroscience,
philosophy, and sometimes spiritual or anomalous-state research.
Kuhn's paper collects and organizes hundreds of theories along a
spectrum from most physical to least physical. The Atlas puts that
organization into a visual form so readers, students, and researchers
can quickly see how different positions relate and where each theory
sits on the spectrum.
How it works
Theories are grouped into ten main categories, arranged by their
stance on the physical-to-nonphysical spectrum. Examples of categories
include Materialism, Non-Reductive Physicalism, Functionalism,
Quantum-based theories, Panpsychism, Monism, Dualism, Idealism,
Anomalous States, and Challenge Theories. The app shows the whole map
at once. Click any theory to read its structured entry, which includes
references to canonical sources and named thinkers.
Who it is for
- Students learning philosophy of mind and cognitive science
-
Researchers and lecturers looking for an at-a-glance comparative
resource
-
Journalists and writers who need a quick reference to the range of
positions
-
Curious readers who want a clear view of what people mean when they
talk about consciousness
What the Atlas does not do
The Atlas does not endorse or rank theories. It is a visualization and
reference based on Kuhn's taxonomy - collect and present, not judge.
It does not attempt to settle the hard problem of consciousness. It is
a tool for exploration and comparison.
A note from Kuhn
Kuhn explicitly states the project's purpose: "collect and categorize,
not assess and adjudicate." The Consciousness Atlas follows that
approach. The data and structure are derived from Kuhn's paper;
feedback and suggested corrections are welcome, but the app is a
visualization layer on top of Kuhn's work.
Kuhn was not involved in the design or content of the Consciousness
Atlas, other than his original paper, 'A Landscape of Consciousness,'
which is the sole source.
FAQ
What is phenomenal consciousness?
Phenomenal consciousness refers to subjective experience - the
qualitative feel of being aware, like the taste of coffee or the
redness of red.
How many theories does the Atlas include?
The Atlas visualizes over 220 individual theories, grouped into ten
broad categories.
Does the Atlas show which theory is true?
No. The Atlas presents theories neutrally. It is a map, not an
argument for any single position.
Is the Atlas academic?
The Atlas is based on an academic source - Robert Kuhn's 2024 paper,
"A Landscape of Consciousness" - and links to canonical sources
where available.
Summary
The Consciousness Atlas is a straightforward visualization tool: it
presents Kuhn's taxonomy as a single, explorable map and lets users
open individual theory entries to read structured, referenced
summaries. It is designed to make this complex field easier to survey
and to serve as a practical reference.
Materialism › Philosophical
Ney’s Physicalism, Not Scientism
Consciousness as Real but Not Fundamental
Alyssa Ney holds that the world is fundamentally the way physics says it is, and that consciousness is real but not fundamental, arising from or realized by the physical. Physicalism in her sense is a claim about what is fundamental, not about what exists, so it does not require eliminating consciousness any more than it requires eliminating spaghetti.
Alyssa Ney
What consciousness is
Consciousness is a non-fundamental part of the physical world, arising from or realized by what fundamental physics describes.
Mind and body
Mind arises from or is realized by the physical. Ney does not require that consciousness be reduced to something easily definable in current physics.
Mechanism
Physicalism stated as a thesis about how the world is fundamentally, which leaves room for real phenomena that physics does not mention.
Core claims
- The world is fundamentally the way physics says it is.
- Physics does not mention spaghetti, yet spaghetti exists, because it does not exist fundamentally; the same holds for consciousness.
- Physicalists who reject whatever physics does not mention go beyond what physicalism requires.
- Dualists and panpsychists give up too early on the scientific project, since there is no good reason to think physics will never explain consciousness.
Criticisms
Claims that consciousness is realized by the physical can look brute or unintelligible to skeptics. Ney replies that every theory stops somewhere, and that the dispute turns on differing standards for a valid explanation.
Implications
- Survival beyond death: No
- Since consciousness here is realized by the physical, it does not continue once its physical basis is gone.
Related theories
Sources
- Ney's Physicalism, Not Scientism (Landscape of Consciousness entry), Alyssa Ney (2018)
Explore all theories on the Consciousness Atlas
