Science & Technology

By T.K. Randall
June 22, 2026

Image: AI-generated (Midjourney)

The latest theory of consciousness offers up the possibility that conscious awareness could be more widespread than we think.

We've covered quite a few different theories of consciousness on this site in recent years and now there is another - this time courtesy of philosophy professor Eric Schwitzgebel of the University of California, Riverside and former UCR graduate student Jeremy Pober of the University of Lisbon.

The idea is essentially that consciousness can arise in forms of life completely different to our own, such as in alien life forms built of completely different materials than ourselves.

A prime example would be the rock-based alien in the movie Project Hail Mary.

This concept is based on the idea of substrate flexibility - something can serve the same function despite being made from different materials.

On this basis, a creature might be entirely different to a human - it could be based on completely different biology - but still be capable of consciousness.

Similarly, an artificial intelligence could also theoretically achieve self-awareness.

The study authors maintain that it is not reasonable to assume that our own biological selves are the only examples of conscious life in the universe.

Humans may simply be the tip of the iceberg.

Source: Science Alert

Tags: Consciousness