On the metaphysical foundations of naturalism in relation to consciousness

Naturalism, the philosophical position that prioritizes scientific knowledge, offers clear advantages for studying consciousness: it relies on science, treats consciousness as a natural phenomenon, applies strict scientific methods, and views the brain as its source. However, naturalistic theories face several unresolved difficulties, including the problem of qualia (the subjective, phenomenal aspects of experience), the failure to explain the consciousness-body (or consciousness-brain) relationship, the localization of consciousness, the unity of the self as a bearer of consciousness, and the ontological status of consciousness itself. The article examines whether metaphysics can be naturalized to include consciousness in a scientifically acceptable ontological picture, noting that naturalism's criteria of scientificity are often vague and its reductionist principle may strip the subject of its specificity.

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Abstract

The article examines the ontological foundations of naturalism in relation to consciousness and attempts to clarify the relationship between naturalism and metaphysics. Ontology is understood as the doctrine of being, and metaphysics as research beyond empirical foundations. Is it possible to «naturalize» metaphysics and include consciousness in the ontological picture of the world in a way that would correspond to scientific standards? That is the question. Naturalism is the most natural and widespread, but not without contradictions, philosophical position. It proceeds from the priority of scientific knowledge, while the criteria of scientificity often turn out to be vague; proclaims reduction as the main principle, adherence to which can deprive the subject of research of its specificity; often denies the significance of ontological foundations in solving epistemological issues. Naturalism in relation to consciousness has a number of obvious advantages: reliance on science and explanation of consciousness only as a natural phenomenon; application of strict scientific methods in the study of consciousness; consideration of the brain as the source and cause of consciousness. The following difficulties encountered by naturalistic theories of consciousness are noted: the problem of «qualia» and phenomenal aspects of conscious experience; failure to explain «consciousness-body» (consciousness-brain); the problem of localization of consciousness; the unity of the «I» as a bearer of consciousness; the ontological status of consciousness. The question of the status of philosophy in the naturalistic study of the world as a whole and consciousness as a part of it is also raised. Philosophy claims to be a translator from one language to another and tries to build a unified picture of the world, alternately using physics, logic, and biology as basic terms. The metaphysical claims of philosophy are considered ontological and epistemological realism, while the opposite position is relativism or pluralism. Naturalism as applied to theories of consciousness is understood as a research position free from metaphysics.