Until there is a scientific definition of consciousness with the concomitant quantifiable variables any discussion about it is philosophical in nature Consciousness is inside us. It is not the output affects that science can observe in the third person. The output is removed from consciousness. I can be conscious that I have a good hand in poker, so I alter the output of my body language so I can bluff. Those who think conscious can be seem from the outside are fooled.
The scientific method is not designed to address consciousness. The method only allows third person observation of the output affects from consciousness, and not the original internal awareness, which cannot be seen from the outside. If I was playing poker and I had a bad hand, I can learn to output a sense of confidence, to bluff the other players. You cannot depend on output without knowledge of the internal tricks of consciousness; conscious and unconscious.
I think therefore I am, is about the internal process of thinking. It is not me looking in the air or talking so others they can have an idea, where my consciousness was directed. The output is for the consciousness of others. Inside is where my consciousness lies. An Automaton can look conscious, based on output. Those who assume there is only the outside world may be fooled. Output affects, only, is why science cannot agree on consciousness.
Consciousness can observe material reality, through the five senses. But it can also sense the internal effects that that sensory input can induce; feeling, ideas, analysis, etc. If I watch a sunset, I may feel indifferent or in awe. Both are internal affects to the sensory input, that others cannot see, unless I output something for them to infer with their consciousness.
To define consciousness you need to look and stay internal, which is beyond the philosophy of science. Consciousness may be the last frontier of science, since the philosophy of science cannot go there, until it expands its philosophy to cover internal affects, that we are conscious of, from the inside.
In my own experience, one of the main sources confusion and awareness, in terms of consciousness, is the internal observation, you cannot see from the outside, which is we have two centers of consciousness. There is the ego, which is the center of the conscious mind, and inner self which is the center of the unconscious mind. These do not always agree and by differing, one can better notice your own ego conscious, being a reflection.
This awareness is often more common in neurosis, where a person may develop, for example, a fear or phobia. They are aware of this fear, but it seems to have a mind of its own, that they cannot control. The phobia may have a hidden logic to it, that the therapists tries to isolate. But it can divide their consciousness into two zones. It can isolate the ego and also help differentiate itself, as being separate; blessing in disguise.
In more advanced applications, the inner self can be more aware or more conscious of things than the ego. The ego may not be conscious of subliminal data that the inner self has for inference and data processing. However, it will try to output, for the ego, in it own fast language, that you learn to understand.
The physical basis for consciousness appears to be connected to entropy and not matter or energy. The 2nd law says the entropy of the universe has to increase. The brain lowers entropy, using 90% of it metabolic energy pumping and exchanging ions. This increases the potential of the 2nd law. All things that can fire neurons, from thinking to sensory input, help the second law. Consciousness sort of helps the 2nd law, with an urge to direct our sensors and thoughts to help the second law, with all these having a natural; instinctive, push behind it.
Entropy is not as tangible as matter and energy, although it makes use of these; entropic states. Entropy increase is more like the need to increase complexity, which is nebulous, but useful for consciousness, evolution and adaptation. Increased complexity is very flexible; any paths, in terms of how it has to end, like consciousness. Entropy increase has the weird affect of making energy disappear. It may then be stored in quantum affects; ESP.
