Two scientists, a neurobiologist and philosopher, recently settled a longstanding debate on consciousness at New York University. The dispute began in 1994 at a conference in Tuson, Arizona, dedicated to studying the scientific foundations of consciousness. Neurobiologist Christoph Koch and philosopher David Chalmers presented opposing viewpoints. Koch argued that consciousness is a scientific problem that can be solved by identifying neural correlates of consciousness, which are specific patterns of brain activity associated with different aspects of consciousness. Chalmers, on the other hand, believed that no physical processes could explain why conscious sensations accompany perceptions and referred to this as the “difficult problem” of consciousness, proposing that “information” may be a fundamental property of reality.
In 1998, Koch made a bet with Chalmers, claiming that by 2023 researchers would discover a clear neuron pattern underlying consciousness. However, over the following decades, Koch’s confidence in his position waned as he recognized the complexity of the problem. He also reevaluated his understanding of neural correlates of consciousness, viewing them as dynamic and multi-level processes.
Last Friday, Koch and Chalmers announced the resolution of their dispute. Koch acknowledged his defeat and presented Chalmers with a box of red wine from California. He expressed admiration for Chalmers’ philosophical approach and called for increased dialogue between neurobiologists and philosophers. Chalmers, in turn, thanked Koch for his openness and honesty and emphasized the importance of experimental data for shaping the theory of consciousness. He also declared that he did not consider the problem of consciousness to be unsolvable and proposed making a new bet for the future.
Koch, feeling emboldened, doubled down on his bet. He predicted that within twenty-five years, when he would be 91 years old and Chalmers 82, researchers would achieve the “clarity” that currently eludes them. Chalmers accepted the bet, shaking Koch’s hand to seal the agreement.