Larissa Albantakis – Why a Little Bit of Causal Structure Is Necessary... Even for Functionalists

Explore the necessity of causal structure in theories of consciousness through a thought-provoking talk by Larissa Albantakis. Delve into the challenges of identifying individual consciousnesses within a group setting and understand why causal analysis is crucial for addressing the individuation problem. Examine a novel thought experiment called "The Greek Cave," inspired by Searle's Chinese Room Argument, which demonstrates the importance of interventions in studying conscious systems. Learn why functionalist accounts of consciousness that lack reference to causal structure are inadequate, as the same complex input-output function can be distributed across varying numbers of consciousnesses. Gain insights into the limitations of current theories and the unique approach of Integrated Information Theory (IIT) in tackling these issues.

Introduction
Conscious experiences
Theturing test
The Chinese room
How systems do what they do matters
System reply
The Greek Cave
Theory of Consciousness
Functional equivalence claims
Objections
Outro