Abstract

Why is it difficult to understand what consciousness is? I will argue that this is because consciousness is not a straightforward, independent entity, but rather an essentially mediated phenomenon. First, it should be noted that we can conceptualize consciousness only through its (temporary) loss. To become aware of the existence of consciousness that is too obvious to notice, we must contrast it with its negations, such as the experience of sleep, fainting, and anaesthesia, or the consciousnesses of others to which I have no direct access. Furthermore, the concept of consciousness is also mediated by reflection on it. Consciousness is prior to its reflection, but this antecedence itself can only be realized through reflection. Husserl addresses this “circular” phenomenon in his later manuscripts with his concept of the “phenomenologizing ego” and the “primal I.” Finally, I will critically discuss our tendency to “substantialize” or “reify” consciousness. In our practical life, it is necessary to conceptualize and objectify consciousness at certain levels. However, what corresponds to the concept of consciousness is not a stand-alone object but a complex and intricate web of mediations. A mediation-focused approach can transform the “hard problem of consciousness” into a concrete phenomenon of multiple mediations that can be specifically and phenomenologically explored.