If there is a (physical) cause for qualia, such that qualia occur if and only if that cause is present, and we work out what that cause is, then we have an empirical test for subjective conciousness.
Yet qualia cannot be measured empirically (atleast that’s the consensus), which makes such tests extremely unlikely. And this discussion seems to turn into a regular qualia debate. I’m not sure if that’s desirable.
If there is a (physical) cause for qualia, such that qualia occur if and only if that cause is present, and we work out what that cause is, then we have an empirical test for subjective conciousness.
I wouldn’t call that, “extremely unlikely”.
Yet qualia cannot be measured empirically (atleast that’s the consensus), which makes such tests extremely unlikely. And this discussion seems to turn into a regular qualia debate. I’m not sure if that’s desirable.
Yet. No one knows what science doesn’t know.
I agree that it’s not desirable.