Consciousness

Articles, Films and practical Guides on consciousness, part of Psyche’s coverage of self-knowledge and personal growth.
Pointillist painting of a vibrant tree with colourful foliage and textured background in a natural setting.
MIND AND BRAIN
4

Perception is a process of inference, not an account of ‘reality’

Video by Aeon

Black and white photo of a person reflected in a window with motion blur and trees visible outside.
MIND AND BRAIN
5

What your mind’s blank moments reveal about consciousness

Scientists are uncovering the nature of an elusive mental experience that challenges what it means to be conscious

by Thomas Andrillon

Impressionist painting of a green Japanese bridge over a pond with water lilies surrounded by lush greenery in a garden setting.
PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

Monet understood the elusive power of a place’s atmosphere

The gist of a scene or place can subtly alter our very sense of being, an affecting quality captured by Monet’s paintings

by Pablo Fernandez Velasco

Close-up photo of an elderly man with a beard wearing a black cap, lying in a hospital bed, looking content.
CHANGE AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT

After four decades in prison, Big D contemplates the brave new world that awaits him

Directed by Laura Tejero Núñez

Illustration of a room with a person lounging on a bed, a pink dresser, a table with cups and a plant.
AUTISM
1

A mysterious black orb trails Mo, growing ever harder to ignore

A film by Gil Goletski

Photo of a sleeping newborn in pink wrapped in a green blanket wearing a medical ID bracelet on their wrist.
CONSCIOUSNESS

When does the first spark of human consciousness ignite?

We can’t ask babies what they’re feeling, but ingenious new methods are shedding light on the origins of subjective awareness

by Joel Frohlich

Sketch of a bathroom with a vanity unit and mirror. An illustrated nude woman stands in the centre, reflected in the mirror.
ALTERED STATES
2

A woman summons a stoic calm after accidentally trapping herself in a shower

A film by Tom Schroeder

Painting of lilac flowers with green leaves on a dark background. The flowers vary in shades of purple, pink, and white.
BEAUTY AND AESTHETICS

‘Nothing renders their beauty’ – can art ever capture the splendour of a flower?

A film by Miléna Trivier

Photo of a person driving a car, seen from the back seat with reflections creating an abstract effect.
CONSCIOUSNESS
30

How to think about consciousness

What is it like to be you? Dive into the philosophical puzzle of consciousness and see yourself and the world in new ways

by Amy Kind

Close-up of an old painting showing a man’s face in profile with visible crackling in the paint surface.
CONSCIOUSNESS

What happens to the brain during consciousness-ending meditation?

Psychologists are studying a form of meditation known as ‘nirodha-samāpatti’ that reportedly ceases all mental function

by Shayla Love

Photo of a person with code reflecting on glasses, focused on a computer screen displaying programming text.
CONSCIOUSNESS

The myth of machine consciousness makes Narcissus of us all

The idea that AI can be conscious is a mistake. It’s just a very shiny mirror of humanity, reflecting what we want to see

by David Bentley Hart

Illustration of a medieval trial with a sow and piglets in court, featuring people in robes and a judge in the background.
ANIMALS

If animals are persons, should they bear criminal responsibility?

Were medieval trials of animal criminals not a sign of backwardness, but in fact strangely progressive?

by Ed Simon

Illustration of a coastal landscape with a yellow tower, green hills, and cacti in the foreground, overlooking a calm sea under a blue sky.
TRAVEL

Postcards from a Tuscan island where an unhurried pace is a way of life

Directed by Tom Schroeder

A person walks past a construction site with “WE LIVE HERE” written on a white panel and an image of two women smiling.
PROGRESS AND THE FUTURE
2

The fate of a London landmark inspires a feverish rumination on progress

Directed by Alice May Williams

A man recently released from prison standing on a rock by a tranquil lake, surrounded by dense green trees and under a partly cloudy sky.
FREEDOM AND CHOICE
3

After decades in prison, Jack navigates the strange, beautiful outside world

Directed by Pete Quandt

A moody cityscape with dark buildings and bright yellow-lit rooms, featuring silhouetted figures inside.
ALTERED STATES

An odyssey into the Parisian night reflects the allure and anxieties of cities

Directed by Adrien Mérigeau