Survey Results

Hard problem of consciousness (is there one?): no or yes?

Population

AOS

Region

for

Exclude answers beyond respondent's first 50

Include skip/insufficiently familiar answers

998 respondents

What the percentages mean: "Accept or lean toward P: 50% (40%)" means that 50% of respondents endorsed this answer inclusively (including multiple-answer endorsements) and 40% endorsed this answer exclusively (excluding multiple-answer endorsements).

These results should not be used for comparison to 2009 results due to different populations and parameters. For meaningful longitudinal comparisons, see the longitudinal analysis section.

Collapse accept and lean towards

Accept or lean towards:
yes

62.42% (62.32%)

Reject or lean against:
yes

0.00% (0.00%)

Accept or lean towards:
no

29.76% (29.66%)

Reject or lean against:
no

0.00% (0.00%)

Accept a combination of views

0.10%

Accept an alternative view

0.90%

The question is too unclear to answer

1.90%

There is no fact of the matter

0.60%

Agnostic/undecided

4.21%

Other

0.30%

N = 998, excluding skipped & insufficiently familiar (143 respondents)

Longitudinal comparison to 2009 survey

This question was not in the 2009 survey

Strongest correlations with main questions (target population)

r: 0.37	Consciousness: dualism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	168	298
Reject	18	227

n: 711

p < 0.0001

r: -0.35	Mind: physicalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	277	300
Reject	227	73

n: 877

p < 0.0001

r: 0.33	Philosophical methods: intuition-based philosophy
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	365	218
Reject	118	199

n: 900

p < 0.0001

r: 0.31	Zombies: metaphysically possible
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	204	340
Reject	38	241

n: 823

p < 0.0001

r: -0.3	Metaphilosophy: naturalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	259	258
Reject	196	72

n: 785

p < 0.0001

r: -0.29	Zombies: inconceivable
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	62	481
Reject	95	185

n: 823

p < 0.0001

r: 0.29	A priori knowledge: yes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	513	87
Reject	195	115

n: 910

p < 0.0001

r: 0.28	Analytic-synthetic distinction: yes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	443	141
Reject	163	148

n: 895

p < 0.0001

r: 0.27	Grounds of intentionality: phenomenal
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	64	266
Reject	6	195

n: 531

p < 0.0001

r: -0.26	Knowledge: empiricism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	239	241
Reject	180	71

n: 731

p < 0.0001

r: 0.26	Cosmological fine-tuning: design
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	97	306
Reject	18	182

n: 603

p < 0.0001

r: -0.26	Chinese room: understands
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	70	418
Reject	82	162

n: 732

p < 0.0001

r: -0.25	Consciousness: functionalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	142	325
Reject	121	124

n: 712

p < 0.0001

r: 0.25	Perceptual experience: qualia theory
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	116	323
Reject	17	220

n: 676

p < 0.0001

r: 0.25	Interlevel metaphysics: grounding
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	147	202
Reject	39	148

n: 536

p < 0.0001

r: 0.24	Metaontology: heavyweight realism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	169	152
Reject	55	133

n: 509

p < 0.0001

r: 0.23	Abstract objects: Platonism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	272	262
Reject	90	190

n: 814

p < 0.0001

r: -0.23	Truth: deflationary
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	119	422
Reject	118	171

n: 830

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Immortality: yes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	285	218
Reject	99	176

n: 778

p < 0.0001

r: -0.22	Consciousness: eliminativism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	6	459
Reject	33	212

n: 710

p < 0.0001

r: 0.22	Truth: correspondence
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	356	186
Reject	146	143

n: 831

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Morality: non-naturalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	176	313
Reject	35	217

n: 741

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Free will: libertarianism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	157	439
Reject	33	274

n: 903

p < 0.0001

r: 0.21	Meta-ethics: moral realism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	433	161
Reject	180	125

n: 899

p < 0.0001

r: 0.2	Philosophical methods: conceptual analysis
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	467	116
Reject	203	114

n: 900

p < 0.0001

r: 0.2	Justification: nonreliabilist foundationalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	151	273
Reject	40	178

n: 642

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	God: theism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	145	446
Reject	37	273

n: 901

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Concepts: nativism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	147	224
Reject	51	166

n: 588

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Meaning of life: objective
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	230	276
Reject	78	189

n: 773

p < 0.0001

r: 0.19	Mental content: internalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	168	335
Reject	58	223

n: 784

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Arguments for theism: design
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	120	315
Reject	29	185

n: 649

p < 0.0001

r: 0.18	Propositional attitudes: phenomenal
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	36	336
Reject	7	209

n: 588

p < 0.0001

r: 0.17	Moral judgment: cognitivism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	449	120
Reject	194	100

n: 863

p < 0.0001

r: -0.17	Laws of nature: Humean
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	155	386
Reject	109	171

n: 821

p < 0.0001

r: -0.17	Theory of reference: deflationary
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	45	348
Reject	60	164

n: 617

p < 0.0001

r: -0.16	Metaontology: deflationary realism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	81	238
Reject	78	110

n: 507

p: 0.0003

r: -0.16	Analysis of knowledge: no analysis
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	145	338
Reject	114	151

n: 748

p < 0.0001

r: 0.16	Epistemic justification: internalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	238	300
Reject	91	198

n: 827

p < 0.0001

r: 0.16	Arguments for theism: cosmological
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	128	307
Reject	43	171

n: 649

p < 0.0001

r: 0.16	Method in political philosophy: ideal theory
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	147	205
Reject	48	139

n: 539

p: 0.0003

r: -0.15	Well-being: hedonism/experientialism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	55	372
Reject	42	190

n: 659

p < 0.0001

r: -0.15	Personal identity: biological view
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	113	397
Reject	84	166

n: 760

p < 0.0001

r: -0.15	Possible worlds: nonexistent
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	147	353
Reject	109	159

n: 768

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Possible worlds: abstract
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	312	188
Reject	132	135

n: 767

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Properties: transcendent universals
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	96	262
Reject	28	171

n: 557

p: 0.0007

r: -0.14	Experience machine: yes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	72	490
Reject	58	244

n: 864

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Theory of reference: descriptive
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	117	282
Reject	41	186

n: 626

p: 0.0004

r: -0.14	Abortion: permissible
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	414	95
Reject	261	29

n: 799

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Politics: capitalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	189	263
Reject	73	177

n: 702

p: 0.0002

r: 0.14	Personal identity: further-fact view
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	111	395
Reject	31	219

n: 756

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	Response to external-world skepticism: abductive
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	127	312
Reject	49	181

n: 669

p: 0.0004

r: -0.14	Meaning of life: nonexistent
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	88	411
Reject	75	192

n: 766

p: 0.0002

r: -0.13	Other minds: future AI systems
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	204	318
Reject	134	136

n: 792

p: 0.0002

r: -0.13	Morality: expressivism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	50	440
Reject	38	217

n: 745

p: 0.0003

r: 0.13	Well-being: objective list
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	271	158
Reject	112	119

n: 660

p: 0.0006

r: -0.13	Morality: naturalist realism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	164	329
Reject	103	150

n: 746

p: 0.0003

r: -0.13	Free will: compatibilism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	354	244
Reject	213	95

n: 906

p < 0.0001

r: -0.13	Properties: tropes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	52	306
Reject	47	152

n: 557

p: 0.0024

r: 0.13	Causation: primitive
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	105	308
Reject	43	189

n: 645

p: 0.0011

r: 0.13	Hume: skeptic
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	169	230
Reject	77	157

n: 633

p: 0.0013

r: -0.13	Cosmological fine-tuning: no fine-tuning
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	88	315
Reject	67	133

n: 603

p: 0.0018

r: -0.13	Normative ethics: consequentialism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	187	360
Reject	128	150

n: 825

p: 0.0003

r: 0.12	Response to external-world skepticism: dogmatist
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	76	359
Reject	27	203

n: 665

p: 0.0014

r: -0.12	Response to external-world skepticism: pragmatic
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	90	349
Reject	69	163

n: 671

p: 0.0015

r: -0.12	Semantic content: radical contextualism (most or all)
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	81	274
Reject	74	140

n: 569

p: 0.0037

r: -0.12	Other minds: current AI systems
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	11	511
Reject	13	257

n: 792

p: 0.0006

r: -0.12	Extended mind: yes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	227	229
Reject	149	108

n: 713

p: 0.0012

r: 0.12	Other minds: newborn babies
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	468	54
Reject	228	42

n: 792

p: 0.0007

r: -0.12	Philosophical methods: empirical philosophy
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	358	225
Reject	230	87

n: 900

p: 0.0003

r: 0.12	Method in history of philosophy: analytic/rational reconstruction
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	305	127
Reject	142	84

n: 658

p: 0.0022

r: 0.12	Foundations of mathematics: set-theoretic
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	49	206
Reject	29	145

n: 429

p: 0.0139

r: 0.12	Semantic content: moderate contextualism (intermediate)
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	210	145
Reject	108	106

n: 569

p: 0.0047

r: -0.12	Philosophical knowledge: none
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	12	490
Reject	12	256

n: 770

p: 0.0014

r: -0.12	Footbridge: push
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	141	413
Reject	103	190

n: 847

p: 0.0008

r: 0.11	Analysis of knowledge: other analysis
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	180	303
Reject	75	191

n: 749

p: 0.0016

r: -0.11	Response to external-world skepticism: epistemic externalist
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	70	364
Reject	66	166

n: 666

p: 0.0034

r: -0.11	Law: legal positivism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	122	186
Reject	74	76

n: 458

p: 0.0185

r: 0.11	Principle of sufficient reason: true
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	199	265
Reject	67	178

n: 709

p: 0.0035

r: -0.11	Material composition: nihilism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	18	252
Reject	17	114

n: 401

p: 0.0285

r: 0.11	Time: A-theory
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	129	250
Reject	61	158

n: 598

p: 0.0075

r: -0.11	Justification: reliabilism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	148	275
Reject	102	117

n: 642

p: 0.0056

r: -0.11	Morality: error theory
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	28	460
Reject	17	236

n: 741

p: 0.0035

r: 0.11	Aim of philosophy: wisdom
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	206	351
Reject	85	199

n: 841

p: 0.0021

r: -0.1	Metaontology: anti-realism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	33	287
Reject	36	151

n: 507

p: 0.0188

r: 0.1	Moral principles: moral generalism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	287	172
Reject	123	119

n: 701

p: 0.0059

r: 0.1	Consciousness: panpsychism
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	48	419
Reject	11	234

n: 712

p: 0.0063

r: 0.1	Normative ethics: deontology
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	214	336
Reject	81	196

n: 827

p: 0.0034

r: 0.1	Grounds of intentionality: primitive
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	51	278
Reject	21	180

n: 530

p: 0.0238

r: 0.1	True contradictions: impossible
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	358	82
Reject	174	68

n: 682

p: 0.0112

r: 0.1	Propositions: structured entities
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	158	199
Reject	83	131

n: 571

p: 0.0214

r: 0.1	Propositions: simple entities
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	31	326
Reject	14	200

n: 571

p: 0.0214

r: -0.09	Philosophical methods: experimental philosophy
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	174	409
Reject	127	190

n: 900

p: 0.0044

r: 0.09	Aesthetic value: objective
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	293	252
Reject	128	154

n: 827

p: 0.0078

r: -0.09	Other minds: plants
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	28	494
Reject	28	242

n: 792

p: 0.0114

r: 0.09	Proper names: Fregean
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	178	248
Reject	87	155

n: 668

p: 0.0229

r: 0.09	Aim of philosophy: goodness/justice
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	146	411
Reject	66	217

n: 840

p: 0.0114

r: 0.09	Capital punishment: permissible
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	110	407
Reject	48	240

n: 805

p: 0.0137

r: -0.09	Meaning of life: subjective
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	188	316
Reject	120	148

n: 772

p: 0.0166

r: 0.09	Ought implies can: yes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	366	155
Reject	171	97

n: 789

p: 0.0155

r: 0.09	Other minds: cats
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Accept	Reject
Accept	492	30
Reject	249	21

n: 792

p: 0.0157

Strongest correlations with demographic questions (target population)

r: -0.17	AOS: Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	46	565
Reject	55	275

n: 941

p < 0.0001

r: 0.14	AOS: Philosophy of Religion
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	78	533
Reject	17	313

n: 941

p < 0.0001

r: 0.13	Region of nationality: United States
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	331	252
Reject	143	169

n: 895

p < 0.0001

r: -0.13	Philosopher: Wittgenstein
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	30	428
Reject	34	223

n: 715

p: 0.0005

r: -0.12	Philosopher: Quine
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	36	422
Reject	37	220

n: 715

p: 0.0011

r: 0.12	Philosopher: Aquinas
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	31	427
Reject	5	252

n: 715

p: 0.0012

r: -0.11	Philosopher: James
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	11	447
Reject	16	241

n: 715

p: 0.0032

r: 0.11	Philosopher: Moore
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	25	433
Reject	2	255

n: 715

p: 0.0035

r: 0.1	Philosopher: Leibniz
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	23	435
Reject	3	254

n: 715

p: 0.0055

r: 0.1	Region of affiliation: United States
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	372	245
Reject	171	163

n: 951

p: 0.0014

r: 0.1	Philosopher: Descartes
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	28	430
Reject	7	250

n: 715

p: 0.0059

r: 0.1	Region of PhD: United States
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	338	128
Reject	145	90

n: 701

p: 0.0066

r: -0.1	AOS: Logic and Philosophy of Logic
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	40	571
Reject	39	291

n: 941

p: 0.0017

r: -0.1	Region of nationality: Europe
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	94	489
Reject	76	236

n: 895

p: 0.0025

r: -0.1	Philosopher: Davidson
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	9	449
Reject	18	239

n: 715

p: 0.0074

r: 0.1	AOS: Metaphysics
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	176	435
Reject	73	257

n: 941

p: 0.0028

r: -0.1	AOS: General Philosophy of Science
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	60	551
Reject	54	276

n: 941

p: 0.0032

r: 0.09	Philosopher: Kierkegaard
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	9	449
Reject	0	257

n: 715

p: 0.0126

r: 0.09	AOS: Normative Ethics
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	144	467
Reject	49	281

n: 941

p: 0.0049

r: -0.09	Region of PhD: United Kingdom
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	46	420
Reject	38	197

n: 701

p: 0.0157

r: -0.09	Region of PhD: Europe
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	33	433
Reject	32	203

n: 701

p: 0.0175

r: 0.09	Philosopher: Reid
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	18	440
Reject	3	254

n: 715

p: 0.0219

r: -0.08	Region of affiliation: Europe
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	80	537
Reject	65	269

n: 951

p: 0.0093

r: -0.08	AOS: Philosophy of Computing and Information
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	8	603
Reject	9	321

n: 941

p: 0.0161

r: 0.07	AOS: Applied Ethics
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	89	522
Reject	29	301

n: 941

p: 0.0311

r: -0.07	AOS: Philosophy of Biology
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	19	592
Reject	17	313

n: 941

p: 0.0379

r: 0.07	AOS: Meta-Ethics
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	97	514
Reject	34	296

n: 941

p: 0.0448

r: -0.06	AOS: Philosophy of Language
Hard problem of consciousness: yes	Yes	No
Accept	95	516
Reject	74	256

n: 941

p: 0.0466