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
Shiah’s Contentless Consciousness Theory
Consciousness as Contentless, Eternal Awareness
Yung-Jong Shiah argues that true consciousness is eternal, non-dual, and ‘contentless’, holding no fixed mental structures, and that our everyday awareness of a permanent self and separate world is a delusional layer that hides it. Drawing on Buddhism and the Heart Sutra, he describes how this delusional consciousness drives rebirth through karma and how compassion, meditation, and giving up desire can dismantle it.
Yung-Jong Shiah
What consciousness is
True consciousness is a timeless, contentless, non-dual state. What we usually call consciousness, the stream of perceptions, desires, and ego-driven thoughts, is a dependent and impermanent illusion layered over it.
Mind and body
The brain does not produce consciousness. Delusional consciousness depends on stimuli and outlives the brain through stored karma, while contentless consciousness is independent of body and stimuli altogether.
Mechanism
Karma stores intentions and experiences, so delusional consciousness persists after death and seeks an embryo matching its karmic energy. The cycle continues until the self-delusion is dissolved.
Core claims
- Ordinary consciousness is dependent and impermanent because it relies on stimuli and changes with each one.
- Giving up personal desire, practicing compassion, and meditating can dissolve the illusion of a fixed self and lead to nirvana.
- Near-death experiences, which Shiah links to a subtle ‘micro-consciousness’ released at death, suggest consciousness continues without a working brain.
- Reincarnation studies of children who recall verifiable past-life details are, for Shiah, the strongest evidence that consciousness survives bodily death.
Criticisms
The theory calls ordinary consciousness illusory, as illusionists do, yet treats a deeper consciousness as eternal and real, so it fits neither materialism nor dualism. Its survival claims rest on near-death, mediumship, and reincarnation evidence that remains contested.
Implications
- Survival beyond death: Yes
- Karma carries delusional consciousness into a new embryo after death, and contentless consciousness is eternal.
- Meaning and purpose: Cosmic/Ultimate
- The aim of life is to dismantle delusional consciousness and reach nirvana, total liberation from suffering.
Related theories
Sources
- Heart Sutra
- Shiah’s Contentless Consciousness Theory (Landscape of Consciousness), Yung-Jong Shiah (2026)
Explore all theories on the Consciousness Atlas
