Teadvusse

Teadvusse is a theoretical term used in philosophy of mind and cognitive science to denote the process by which an entity becomes conscious or enters a conscious state. In debates about machine consciousness, teadvusse refers to a transitional phase during which integrated information or processing structures cross a threshold believed to yield subjective experience, rather than simply producing complex behavior.

Etymology: The term derives from the Estonian teadvus, meaning consciousness, with the translative suffix -usse indicating movement into a state (into consciousness).

Usage and scope: Teadvusse is not a single observable phenomenon but a theoretical construct used to model conditions under which consciousness could emerge in biological or artificial systems. It is discussed in relation to theories such as global workspace, higher-order thought, and emergentism.

Distinctions and examples: Teadvusse describes a transition or state, whereas consciousness is the phenomenological experience itself. For instance, in thought experiments about advanced AI, teadvusse might be asserted to occur when a system integrates information across modalities and reports or demonstrates unified access to the information.

Reception and critique: Some philosophers view teadvusse as a useful heuristic, while others argue it is ambiguous or unverifiable and risks conflating computational complexity with phenomenology. There is no consensus on whether it denotes a real transition.

See also: Consciousness; Artificial consciousness; Emergentism; Global workspace theory.