Abstract

This article outlines a non-reductive neurophilosophical exploration of attention, arguing that its current scientific study is marked by ambiguities and internal inconsistencies. We propose that dominant reductive and anthropocentric assumptions have led contemporary research on attention into conceptual dead ends—including an overreliance on so-called “analytical approaches”, rigid dichotomies, and circular reasoning—that continue to obstruct the formulation of a coherent scientific definition of the phenomenon. To address these challenges, we advocate for the use of non-reductive biogenic frameworks, suggesting that attention be reconceptualized as a complex and embodied process, essential for organisms to regulate adaptive behavior and maintain thermodynamic equilibrium. Ultimately, this article seeks to promote more robust neurophilosophical investigations of attention, integrating insights from neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology, while emphasizing the indispensable role of philosophical reflection in advancing scientific understanding.