A Dualistic Theory of Consciousness

Abstract: A dualistic theory of consciousness is presented which is compatible with the phe-nomena of conscious subjective experience and the findings of neurobiology. It is argued that qualitative phenomenal differences cannot be explained by differences in the underlying neural activity. Therefore, monistic models can never be sufficient for understanding consciousness. Arguments from phenomenology and functional neuroanatomy are presented to support the hypothesis that only brain events within a few selected brain areas have a subjective correlate. If any information processed in the brain shall be consciously accessible, it must build up a repre-sentation within those brain areas whose activity is accompanied by phenomenally concrete ex-perience, that is by sensorymodal or emotional phenomena. In addition, it is argued that brain output cannot be fully explained physically