Part 5/11:
Conversely, the hard problem is fundamentally different. It questions why these physical processes—no matter how complex—should produce subjective, qualitative experiences. No matter how elucidatively we can explain the firing of neurons or the resulting behavior, the deeper question remains: why does any of it feel like something?
The dialogue between science and philosophy concerning consciousness has a rich history, with many scientific disciplines evolving from philosophical inquiries. Physics, for instance, was once purely a domain of philosophical exploration before it crystallized into a natural science, thanks to figures like Newton. Likewise, we hope that consciousness will someday shift from philosophical musings into a framework grounded in scientific understanding.