Philosopher's Zone Are babies conscious?
Sep 18, 2025
Timothy Bain, a philosopher at Monash University and co-director of the Brain, Mind and Consciousness Program, dives into the fascinating debate on infant consciousness. He examines how babies express emotions and interact with their surroundings, questioning when consciousness truly begins. Bain critiques different theories and discusses the moral implications of these views, reflecting on historical practices in medicine and the importance of understanding consciousness in both humans and animals. His insights spark a profound reconsideration of treatment towards all consciousness candidates.
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Historic Infant Surgery Without Anaesthetic
- Until the 1980s many newborns were routinely operated on without general anaesthetic.
- Surgeons assumed infant responses were reflexes, not evidence of subjective experience.
Theory-First Approach Can Mislead
- Building a comprehensive theory of consciousness from adult humans risks invalid extrapolation to infants, animals, or AIs.
- Starting with adult reportable consciousness leaves methodologically shaky grounds when applied broadly.
Marker Methodology And Its Validation Problem
- The marker approach tests observable features linked to consciousness in adults and applies them to other systems.
- Validating markers without circularly relying on theory is a major challenge.