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Cited by 49Philosophy and Theoretical SciencePsychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchEmbodied and Extended Cognition

A neuropsychoanalytical approach to the hard problem of consciousness

Solms, Mark·2014·Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
DOI 10.1142/s0219635214400032
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Abstract

A neuropsychoanalytical approach to the hard problem of consciousness revolves around the distinction between the subject of consciousness and objects of consciousness. In contrast to the mainstream of cognitive science, neuropsychoanalysis prioritizes the subject. The subject of consciousness is the indispensable page upon which consciousness of objects is inscribed. This has implications for our conception of the mental. The subjective being of consciousness is not registered in the classical exteroceptive modalities; it is not merely a cognitive representation, not only a memory trace. Rather, the exteroceptive modalities are registered in the subjective being. Cognitive representations are mental solids embedded within subjectivity, the tangible and visible (etc) properties of which are projected onto reality. It is important to recognize that mental solids (e.g., the body-as-object) are no more real than the subjective being they are inscribed in (the body-as-subject). Moreover, pure subjectivity is not without content or quality. This aspect of consciousness is conventionally described quantitatively as the level of consciousness, or wakefulness. But it feels like something to be awake. The primary modality of this aspect of consciousness is affect. Affect supplies the subjectivity that underpins all consciousness. Some implications of this approach are discussed here, in broad brush strokes.

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  • If an organism is going to make plausible choices in novel contexts, it must do so via some type of here-and-now assessment of the relative value attaching to the alternatives.

    “if the organism is going to make plausible choices in novel contexts (cf. “free will”) it must do so via some type of here-and-now assessment of the relative value attaching to the alternatives (see Solms, 2014).”

    From The Hard Problem of Consciousness and the Free Energy Principle (2019) · cites this paper as Solms, 2014

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Authors
Solms, M.
Affiliations
University of Cape Town (ZA)
Corresponding author
Solms, Mark
ORCID
Solms, Mark
Venue
Journal of Integrative Neuroscience
Publisher
World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd
Published
2014-06
Volume
13
Issue
02
Pages
173-185
ISSN
  • 0219-6352 (ISSN-L)
  • 1757-448X
DOI
10.1142/s0219635214400032
OpenAlex
W1980338610
Cited by
49
References
36
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2
FWCI
4.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Integrative Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) (publishedVersion)
  • Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Embodied and Extended Cognition
Keywords
hard problem of consciousness, neuropsychoanalysis, subjectivity, exteroception, mental representation, body as subject, body as object, affect, level of consciousness, wakefulness, qualia
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Consciousness, Humans, Models, Neurological, Psychoanalytic Theory

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