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Other literature type . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
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Thesis . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Thesis . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Experiential Realism: A Revolutionary Solution to the Hard Problem of Consciousness

Authors: Tan, Kwan Hong;

Experiential Realism: A Revolutionary Solution to the Hard Problem of Consciousness

Abstract

The hard problem of consciousness, first articulated by David Chalmers in 1995, has remained one of philosophy's most intractable puzzles. Despite decades of intensive research and theoretical development, no existing framework has successfully bridged the explanatory gap between objective physical processes and subjective conscious experience. This thesis presents a revolutionary new approach called "Experiential Realism" that dissolves rather than solves the hard problem by reconceptualizing the fundamental nature of reality itself. Experiential Realism proposes that experience, not matter or mind, constitutes the fundamental ontological category from which both physical and mental descriptions are complementary abstractions. This framework avoids the traditional physical/mental dichotomy that creates the explanatory gap, instead positing that what we call "physical processes" are mathematical descriptions of experiential relationships, while "mental phenomena" are higher-order patterns of experiential integration. The theory makes several testable predictions about consciousness and neural integration, provides a unified foundation for all sciences, and successfully addresses the major objections that have plagued competing theories. Unlike physicalism, it explains subjective experience without reduction; unlike dualism, it maintains causal efficacy and scientific unity; unlike panpsychism, it solves the combination problem through a novel account of experiential integration. This work demonstrates that the hard problem arises from false philosophical assumptions rather than genuine metaphysical mysteries, and that consciousness can be understood as a natural phenomenon within a properly conceived scientific worldview. The implications extend beyond philosophy of mind to neuroscience, artificial intelligence, ethics, and our fundamental understanding of reality itself.

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Keywords

Consciousness/ethics, Consciousness, Panpsychism, Philosophy/history, Metaphysics, Contemporary philosophy, Philosophy, ethics and religion, Hard Problem of Consciousness, Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical, Dualism, Modern philosophy, Metaphysics/history, Paradox, Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical/ethics, Experience, Consciousness/classification, Ontology, Philosophy of Mind, Ancient philosophy, Physicalism, FOS: Philosophy, ethics and religion, Philosophy, Philosophical Paradox, Paradoxes, Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical/classification, Qualia, Neuroscience

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
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