Consciousness: An Indian Model

This presentation develops an Indian model of consciousness by integrating contemporary philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and classical Indian philosophical traditions. It begins by arguing that consciousness is not a single phenomenon but a family of related concepts, including creature, transitive, state, and phenomenal consciousness, each requiring distinct explanatory treatment. The presentation organizes the inquiry around three central questions: What is consciousness? (its descriptive structure), How does consciousness arise? (the explanatory or mind-body problem), and Why does consciousness exist? (its functional and evolutionary significance). It examines the defining features of conscious experience, the explanatory gap between neural processes and subjective experience, and evaluates major Western theories such as dualism, physicalism, functionalism, Global Workspace Theory, Integrated Information Theory, and Higher-Order Thought theories. It also explores the proposed adaptive functions of consciousness, including flexible control, integrated representation, global information access, social cognition, freedom of will, and intrinsic motivation. The second half of the presentation introduces Indian philosophical perspectives from traditions such as Nyāya, Sāṃkhya, Vedānta, and Buddhism, highlighting their distinctive conceptions of consciousness, self, and cognition. Rather than treating consciousness merely as a by-product of neural activity, these traditions offer alternative ontological and epistemological frameworks that distinguish consciousness from mental processes while emphasizing introspection and valid cognition. By bringing Western scientific theories into dialogue with Indian philosophical insights, the presentation proposes a more comprehensive framework for understanding consciousness—one that addresses its phenomenological, functional, and metaphysical dimensions and provides a foundation for future interdisciplinary research in philosophy, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence.