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.
Anomalous
Schlitz’s Theory of Mind
Consciousness as an Interface Between Inner and Outer
Marilyn Schlitz treats consciousness as an interface that entangles inner subjective experience with outer, observable behavior and events. When the boundary between inner and outer becomes more fluid, she suggests, minds may tap shared and possibly non-local fields of information, which would account for psi, mystical experience, and reported contact with the dead.
Marilyn Schlitz
What consciousness is
Consciousness is an entanglement of inner and outer existence, the interface linking what it feels like to be someone with how that person behaves and reacts.
Mind and body
Inner experience and outer phenomena are interwoven through the interface Schlitz calls the Theory of Mind (ToM). Drawing on quantum holography and some forms of panpsychism, she suggests consciousness is not wholly confined to the brain.
Mechanism
Psi as extreme sensitivity of the ToM interface, possibly working through unconscious or non-local information processing when the boundary between subjective and objective loosens.
Core claims
- Consciousness links subjective experience with objective behavior and events.
- Psi, altered states, and mystical experiences may arise when the boundary between subjective and objective domains becomes more fluid.
- In Schlitz’s psychomantium and virtual-reality studies, people engaging imaginatively with departed loved ones report veridical experiences across sight, sound, smell, and bodily sensation, with therapeutic benefit.
Criticisms
Some researchers dismiss psi as anomalous or pseudoscientific, which leaves the model’s main explanatory target in dispute.
Implications
- Survival beyond death: Possible
- Schlitz suggests the model could explain veridical after-death encounters and expanded consciousness beyond the physical world, without asserting survival outright.
- Meaning and purpose: Cosmic/Ultimate
- Schlitz holds that the ToM opens a window onto the interconnectedness of all life.
Related theories
Sources
- Schlitz’s Theory of Mind (Landscape of Consciousness), Marilyn Schlitz
Explore all theories on the Consciousness Atlas
