The Integrated Information Theory needs Attention

The Integrated Information Theory (IIT) is a leading scientific proposal for explaining phenomenal consciousness, but it overlooks the essential role of attention in generating and shaping conscious experience. Without an account of attention, IIT cannot explain informational differences between types of experiences. Although some IIT proponents claim a double dissociation between consciousness and attention, close analysis shows this dissociation is incompatible with IIT. These issues likely extend to other internalist and primitivist theories of conscious contents in philosophy, as well as to structuralist approaches. The discussion highlights that attention is indispensable for both scientific and philosophical theorizing about conscious experience.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The Integrated Information Theory (IIT) might be our current best bet at a scientific explanation of phenomenal consciousness. IIT focuses on the distinctively subjective and phenomenological aspects of conscious experience. Currently, it offers the fundaments of a formal account, but future developments shall explain the qualitative structures of every possible conscious experience. But this ambitious project is hindered by one fundamental limitation. IIT fails to acknowledge the crucial roles of attention in generating phenomenally conscious experience and shaping its contents. Here, we argue that IIT urgently needs an account of attention. Without this account, IIT cannot explain important informational differences between different kinds of experiences. Furthermore, though some IIT proponents celebratedly endorse a double dissociation between consciousness and attention, close analysis reveals that such as dissociation is in fact incompatible with IIT. Notably, the issues we raise for IIT will likely arise for many internalist theories of conscious contents in philosophy, especially theories with primitivist inclinations. Our arguments also extend to the recently popularized structuralist approaches. Overall, our discussion highlights how considerations about attention are indispensable for scientific as well as philosophical theorizing about conscious experience.