There Is No 'Hard Problem of Consciousness'
The article discusses the ongoing debate surrounding consciousness and its relationship to the physical world. It argues that consciousness is not separate from the body and that our understanding of it is influenced by historical perspectives. The author suggests that the complexity of consciousness is akin to other natural phenomena that remain difficult to fully comprehend.
- ▪Consciousness is intertwined with the physical world, challenging traditional views of a separate soul.
- ▪The debate on consciousness reflects cultural fears of losing a transcendent identity.
- ▪Understanding consciousness is complicated, similar to other natural phenomena that elude complete explanation.
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There Is No ‘Hard Problem Of Consciousness’ Consciousness is not separate from the physical world — our “soul” is of the same nature as our body and any other phenomenon of the world. Florian Meissner for Noema Magazine EssayPhilosophy & Culture By Carlo Rovelli May 7, 2026 Credits Carlo Rovelli is a theoretical physicist known for his work on quantum gravity, the foundation of quantum mechanics and the nature of space and time. A fierce debate is raging around the slippery notion of consciousness. It retraces a trotted pattern of cultural resistance: We humans are often scared by anything that may disturb our image of ourselves. Famously, Darwin’s realization that we have common ancestors with all living organisms on our planet met ferocious resistance.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at NOEMA.
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