vedomie

Vedomie is a Slovak noun that denotes the state of being aware or conscious. In everyday speech it can refer to wakefulness, the ability to perceive one’s surroundings, and self-awareness. In philosophy, psychology and neuroscience, vedomie is used to describe consciousness—the subjective experience of mental states—and the capacity to reflect on one’s own thoughts and feelings. The term is also employed in moral philosophy to denote conscience, the internal sense of right and wrong that guides judgment and behavior. Context usually clarifies which sense is intended.

Etymology and forms: The word is cognate with related Slavic terms meaning knowledge or awareness; in Slovak the related adjective vedomý means conscious or aware, and the noun can appear in compound phrases such as kolektívne vedomie.

Usage and scope: Vedomie appears across disciplines: philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, sociology and ethics. In sociology, kolektívne vedomie describes a society’s shared beliefs and values. In neuroscience, research explores neural correlates of vedomie and different states of consciousness, from alertness to coma. The term also figures in discussions of personal identity and subjective experience.

See also: consciousness, conscience, self-awareness.