Exploring the nature of consciousness: Michael Graziano's attentional schema theory and Bernard Baars' global workspace theory

Abstract

The article examines the modern discourse on the problem of consciousness in the context of theories about the biological and physical basis of consciousness. In order to consider problematic issues of consciousness, two theoretical approaches to consciousness are analyzed: Michael Graziano's attention schema theory and Bernard Baars' global workspace theory. By describing the key characteristics of each approach, it is determined what aspects of consciousness they propose to explain, what their neurobiological commitments are, and what empirical evidence is cited to support them. Researching the theories of Michael Graziano and Bernard Baars helps in understanding how the brain creates conscious experience, which is key to progress in the field of cognitive science and neuroscience. Understanding the nature of consciousness is important for philosophical and ethical discussions related to questions of responsibility, self-awareness, and other aspects of social existence. The research also promotes interaction between different fields of science, such as neurobiology, psychology, philosophy and computer science, which creates an integrated approach to the study of consciousness. When writing this article, the following methods were used: discourse analysis, in order to obtain substantiated information about the theories of consciousness of Michael Graziano and Bernard Baars, about various aspects of theories of consciousness, their main principles and interaction with other theories. Comparativist approach: a comparative analysis of the theories of Michael Graziano and Bernard Baars was carried out, highlighting their common and distinctive features. Comprehensive approach: a wide range of knowledge and information was used to write the article in order to provide a complete and objective overview of theories of consciousness.