Erik Hoel: Consciousness is a mystery, but its definition isn't — experts mostly agree
erikphoel · x · 2026-09-28
Neuroscientist and writer Erik Hoel pushes back on the popular claim that consciousness can't even be defined. His argument: experts who actually research consciousness or publish philosophy on it largely agree on the linguistic definition — the real disputes are over scientific and metaphysical theories, not the word itself. He notes that conflating consciousness with introspection, purpose, pain/pleasure, or intelligence is especially common among people with CS, math, and AI backgrounds, citing a LessWrong survey of academics as an example. Resharing it, philosopher Ralph Stefan Weir agrees: definition isn't the sticking point; the theories are. The piece is a useful corrective for how AI-consciousness debates get framed.
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