Do we need a paradigm shift in the consciousness sciences?

Summary of a forum contribution at the symposium "Applied Conscientiology - Science in the Service of Living" on October 12, 2012 in Bad Abbach

Abstract

Modern Neuroscience currently provides the basic tools for research of consciousness. Bringing together physiological data with psychometric data it is attempted to grasp the relationship between objective brain dynamics and subjective experience. However, here the problem arises that collecting neuronal correlates of subjective experiences truly provide such data, but those data still remain separated from the experience itself, the Qualia in the philosophical terminology. This has to do with the various changes of the category of description occurring in the transition from experience to knowledge. As a consequence the researcher lacks the participation in the research object. To make the scientific process more complete, empathy of the researcher seems to be necessary in order to translate knowledge categories back into an experience. The individual experience therefore can be regarded to be as important for a consciousness researcher as the interpretation of the quantum theory is for a quantum physicist in order to gain a deeper insight into the nature of the world and consciousness.