THEORY OF WE

OUR MISSION

Catalyze collective advances in consciousness science.

COMMUNITIES WE SERVE

 Research professionals involved in the rigorous multidisciplinary study of consciousness

 Anyone engaging in the serious development of a Theory of consciousness
 Observers interested in learning about the science of consciousness
 Students exploring this field
 Critics of consciousness science, who wish to engage in constructive dialogue

MAIN OBJECTIVES

1. Raise Awareness – Increase Reach

Expand the science of consciousness audience. Promote the field. Provide a rigorous and coherent presentation
of the field’s foundations and methodologies to those outside the field, to raise the understanding and
appreciation of the field.

2. Single Source

Theory of We provides a single well-organized source for all things science-of-consciousness. Practical tools, as
outlined below, support the science of consciousness community in advancing the common objective of
discovering a probable or definitive theory of consciousness.

Collaboration Platform In near real-time, this platform enables participants to continuously share,
comment, collaborate and respectfully debate advances in the field of the
science of consciousness.

Online Library Comprehensive and current library that includes scientific research papers,
abstracts, videos of conferences, lectures and classes. Links to other relevant
libraries and their content are also maintained.

User-Dedicated Areas Managed by individuals or organizations, these user-dedicated areas are used
to showcase work, to invite others to collaborate (privately or publicly), or for
any other mission-consistent activity.

Field-Maps Maps that group theories together, highlight structurally-significant contrasts

between theories, and offer new views of the field as a whole.

Dialogue-Based Inquiries Inquiries that explore the boundaries and divisions within the field, and the
limits of the field itself.

Project Funding An integrated presentation and assessment framework that can assist projects
of merit to obtain funding.
 THEORY OF WE
Three projects are fundamentally important to TheoryOfWe. We have begun all three, but we believe that the
best way forward is to create broader community involvement in each of them. Therefore, we are also currently
exploring ways to involve more people in each of these efforts.

1. CRAFTING A COMMUNITY-CONSENSUS ‘SCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS’ DEFINITION

We believe that all enterprises function best if the clearest possible statement of direction is made at the outset.
And we believe that the TheoryOfWe mission, of ‘catalyzing collective advances in consciousness science’, will be
made clearer by an explicit definition of what ‘consciousness science’ is. Increased clarity in this area will
provide critical structure to ensuing discussions.

Of course, there is no universally-agreed, comprehensive, definition of ‘science’. And there are many differing
views on what the term ‘consciousness’ refers to, in the context of scientific study. Thus, proposing a single
definition may be controversial. One approach currently being examined combines a minimalist definition of
‘science’ with a maximal, open, definition of ‘consciousness’.

A ‘minimalist definition of science’ doesn’t create a comprehensive account. It just specifies components whose
absence would make an enquiry unscientific. For example, ‘science is a unified framework integrating
experimental data and logical reasoning, including wherever possible the design and execution of experiments
that can arbitrate between competing hypotheses.’

A ‘maximal, open, definition of consciousness’ allows that many different phenomena may be included – or
excluded! (That is what is meant by ‘maximal’ and ‘open’.) But in order to be a definition, it must have some
orienting content. For example, ‘consciousness labels some set of psychological properties potentially including,
but not limited to, phenomenal experience.’

In the midst of controversies and differing opinions, TheoryOfWe is looking for a definition of consciousness
science that is broad enough to include all relevant parties, but precise enough to focus efforts into advances.
Again, we intend to seek wider input into this process.

2. DEVELOPING THE CORE TECHNOLOGY AND CONTENT OFFERS WITH USER PARTICIPATION

The core offer includes a near real-time platform for sharing field-advances, a comprehensive and current
online library, and user-dedicated areas managed by individuals or organizations. Examples of how these
components might look be found below, under ‘Core Technology and Content Offers at TheoryOfWe’. But these
are not final specifications. Again, we intend to. seek wider input on these aspects Initially, this input might take
the form of feedback on draft designs. We are also considering beta-testing a prototype technology with a select
group of early-adopters.

3. INITIATING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE ‘FIELD-MAPPING’ ACTIVITY

The concept of a field-map is discussed in further detail under ‘Complementary Content Offers at TheoryOfWe’,
below. To advance this component, we are currently working on creating a small-scale, prototype, map that the
community can get involved with.