Philosophy Now Forum

Inspired by empirical insights from Theravada Buddhist meditation, we develop a dynamic “Self-Model”: the self is merely an illusion emerging from the rapid alternation between “awareness” and “awareness-of-awareness”. Although empirically validating any model of consciousness would confront immense...

The study of consciousness is marked by a long-standing debate between Higher-Order Theories (HOT), which posit that a mental state becomes conscious via a separate higher-order representation, and Reflexive Theories, which contend that consciousness is an intrinsic, built-in property of experience ...

The nature of the self remains a central enigma, for while current theories largely converge on the idea that the self is a constructed illusion, they still lack a specific and dynamic generative mechanism for its phenomenal presence. Inspired by empirical insights from Theravada Buddhist meditation...

Is the self a real entity or merely a constructed illusion? On the basis of empirical materials from Theravada Buddhism and the scientific mechanism behind Buddhist meditation, I develop a new “Self-Model” compared with Metzinger’s Self-Model Theory: the self is just the illusion emerging out of th...

In our model, “awareness of awareness” is distinct from “meta-cognition” and “meta-awareness” because of its spontaneity. “Awareness of awareness” is not a deliberate, effortful, or analytical reflection. Instead, it’s a direct “knowing” state that immediately follows the occurrence of primary aware...

Furthermore, inspired by Ajahn Brahm’s insightful “fruit salad simile” which describes experiences in Theravada Buddhist meditation, we develop a new “Self-Model” by introducing “awareness of awareness” out of the framework of the five aggregates: contemplating the five aggregates would discern tha...

This model could be validated by a series of ingeniously and rigorously designed neuroscientific experiments: Please note that “awareness of awareness” is distinct from “meta-cognition” and “meta-awareness” because of its spontaneity. By comparing the neural response maps during a conscious state (e...

区分“五蕴皆空”和“五蕴无我”，是打通大小乘佛教的关键，也是破解《心经》的密钥。 小乘佛教讲“五蕴无我”：Theravada Buddhism holds that the self does not exist (namely, “there is no personal self underlying the five aggregates”), but the external world does exist. 大乘唯识讲“五蕴无对境”：Mind-Only school holds that only the mind exists, and the external world do...

Moreover, this new “Self-Model” supports and enhances Metzinger’s Self-Model Theory by offering a detailed dynamic process of how selfhood arises and revealing the mechanism of transparency of his Self-Model. From another perspective, this model strongly supports “Higher-Order Theories” of conscious...

The newest version for those who are interested in: Inspired by the empirical evidence of Theravada Buddhist meditation, we develop a new “Self-Model” compared with Metzinger’s Self-Model Theory: the self is the illusion emerging out of the rapid alternation of “awareness” and “awareness of awarenes...

A new idea: By comparing the response maps of the brain regions in the conscious and unconscious states, it is possible to determine the area where the "Awareness of Awareness" occurs. The reason is that "Awareness" exists in both states, while the difference is whether or not th...

…Is the self a real entity or merely a constructed illusion? Interesting question! I’d say it’s definitely real in that it causes real influence. But it’s also illusion-based, since it operates from subjectivity. What do you think of consciousness as energy? Btw, welcome to the forum! I’ve been her...

Is 'Awareness of Awareness' not a subtype of awareness? Could it not be described as - The contents of awareness include both sensory and conceptual experiences? 'Awareness of Awareness' being a self-referential conceptual experience. If so, then there wouldn't be rapid alternation - there'd simply...

“Awareness of Awareness” is not Meta-Cognition.

1. Whether the self is a mental entity or a dynamic illusion is a very important philosophical question, but it has not yet been proven. 2. Inspired by the empirical materials of Theravada Buddhism, I have proposed a self-consistent self-model in the hope of answering the above philosophical questio...