Consciousness: An Interdisciplinary Guide

Written by: David Svolba; Abe Witonsky

Publication Date: May 31, 2026
ISBN: 9781554815692 / 155481569X
350 pages; 6" x 9"

What is consciousness? What is the right way to study it? How can we determine when someone or something is conscious? Drawing on historical and contemporary work across many disciplines, including philosophy, neuroscience, cognitive science, and psychology, David Svolba and Abe Witonsky tackle these questions and many more in this exciting and expansive guidebook. Written for those who are new to the subject, this book helps readers understand why consciousness has been called the “last great mystery,” and why understanding the nature and function of consciousness has become a central topic in the philosophy of mind.

Comments

“This book is a must-read, not only for philosophers studying or teaching the consciousness debate but also for psychologists, neuroscientists, and cognitive scientists who need a clear, structured map of the field. Covering everything from neural correlates and animal consciousness to altered states and mental health, it offers breadth without sacrificing rigor. The field of consciousness studies is often complex and dense, but David Svolba and Abe Witonsky have charted a genuinely navigable path. Having taught this topic for years, I can say this is the best cross-disciplinary resource I have come across.” — Dimitria E. Gatzia, University of Akron

“An excellent introduction to consciousness, the deep puzzles it raises, and prominent attempted solutions to them. Svolba and Witonsky not only present traditional philosophical debates about consciousness, such as that between dualism and physicalism, but also discuss a range of issues not often treated at an introductory level, such as disorders and altered states of consciousness.” — Matthew Haug, College of William & Mary

“An authoritative and comprehensive critical guide through the maze that is the interdisciplinary study of consciousness. The authors survey the field with clarity and patience, and in an engaging, keen, lucid style, always avoiding the twin traps of oversimplification and convolution. Their genuine sense of wonder for the mystery(s) of consciousness shines through every page and is contagious.” — Ronald Loeffler, Grand Valley State University

Acknowledgments
Introduction

Chapter 1: Concepts of Consciousness

1.1. Introduction
1.2. Rosenthal on Three Forms of Consciousness
1.3. Access-Consciousness and Phenomenal Consciousness
1.4. Conclusion

Chapter 2: Dualism

2.1. Introduction
2.2. The Problem of Consciousness
2.3. Dualism
2.4. Motivations for Dualism
2.5. Arguments for Dualism
2.6. Problems with Dualism
2.7. Conclusion

Chapter 3: Physicalism

3.1. Introduction
3.2. Identity
3.3. Why Physicalism Is Compelling
3.4. Arguments for Physicalism
3.5. The Hard Problem of Consciousness
3.6. Conclusion

Chapter 4: Radical Alternatives

4.1. Introduction
4.2. Introducing Panpsychism
4.3. Three Arguments for Panpsychism
4.4. The Combination Problem
4.5. Introducing Illusionism
4.6. Arguments for Illusionism
4.7. Objections to Illusionism
4.8. Conclusion

Chapter 5: Cognitive Theories of Consciousness

5.1. Introduction
5.2. Theories of Consciousness
5.3. Conscious and Unconscious Mental States
5.4. The PANIC Theory of Consciousness
5.5. Higher-Order Theories of Consciousness
5.6. The Global Workspace Theory of Consciousness
5.7. The Attention Schema Theory of Consciousness
5.8. Conclusion

Chapter 6: The Objects of Perceptual Experience

6.1. Introduction
6.2. Sense-datum Theory and the Argument from Illusion
6.3. The Pivotal Role of Transparency
6.4. Classic Transparency and Modern Transparency
6.5. The Case against Modern Transparency
6.6. If Transparency Were Jettisoned, Where Would That Leave Direct Realism?
6.7. The Causal Argument Against Direct Realism
6.8. Conclusion

Chapter 7: The Search for the Neural Correlates of Consciousness

7.1. Introduction
7.2. What Is a Neural Correlate of Consciousness?
7.3. How Do We Investigate the NCC?
7.4. Current Controversies
7.6. Interpreting the NCC
7.7. Conclusion

Chapter 8: Animal and Machine Consciousness

8.1. Introduction
8.2. Two Approaches to Animal Consciousness
8.3. Could There Be a Conscious AI?
8.4. Conclusion

Chapter 9: Disorders of Consciousness

9.1. Introduction
9.2. Dissociative Identity Disorder: Fragmented Identity or Multiple Minds?
9.3. Explaining Alienation: HOT Theory and Disownership Delusion
9.4. Why a Disorder of Consciousness Can Be an Excuse for Criminal Behavior
9.5. What Makes a Disorder of Consciousness a Medical Illness?
9.6. Conclusion

Chapter 10: Altered States of Consciousness

10.1. Introduction
10.2. Altered States of Consciousness and Human Consciousness
10.3. Altered States of Consciousness and the Nature of External Reality
10.4. Altered States of Consciousness and Mental Health
10.5. Conclusion

Chapter 11: Consciousness and Free Will

11.1. Introduction
11.2. What is “Free Will”?
11.3. Free Will and Determinism
11.4. The Scientific Challenge to Free Will
11.5. Conclusion

Chapter 12: The Value of Consciousness

12.1. Introduction
12.2. Is Consciousness Necessary for Prudential Value?
12.3. Doubts about Experientialism
12.4. Is Consciousness Necessary for Moral Value?
12.5. Doubts about Moral Experientialism
12.6. Conclusion

Works Cited
Glossary

David Svolba is Associate Professor at Fitchburg State University. Abe Witonsky is Assistant Teaching Professor at Rowan University.

• Broad coverage of the topic, using an interdisciplinary approach
• Addresses most of the major questions about consciousness and the main theories that attempt to address them
• Engaging and accessible presentation of ideas, with helpful illustrations
• Key terms are emphasized throughout and collected in a glossary at back of the book
• Thought-provoking examples and anecdotes from several areas of study, including philosophy, literature, history, and psychology
• Each chapter concludes with a set of detailed comprehension questions to encourage further engagement with the reading
• Additional readings and videos are provided through a companion website
• Instructor resources include multiple-choice quiz questions and lecture slides

Instructor Site:
– Multiple-choice questions for use as quizzes (50 per chapter).
– Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows for each chapter.

General Site (for students and all readers):
– Links to additional resources for each chapter, including articles and videos that supplement the book’s content.