Consciousness, in philosophy, is the state of being aware of one's surroundings, thoughts, and experiences. It is one of the most debated topics in philosophy of mind, with questions about its nature, origin, and relation to the physical brain.

Major theories include dualism, which holds that mind and body are distinct substances; materialism, which holds that consciousness is entirely physical; and panpsychism, which holds that consciousness is a fundamental feature of reality. The "hard problem" of consciousness, coined by David Chalmers, asks why physical processes give rise to subjective experience.

Key points

• Awareness of self and surroundings
• Central to philosophy of mind
• Theories: dualism, materialism, panpsychism
• Hard problem: why physical processes produce experience