combination problem

noun

A problem arising from the tension between the seemingly irreducible nature of consciousness, and its ubiquity. If consciousness is ubiquitous, and every atom (or every bit, depending on the theory) has a minimal level of it, then it is not clear how these tiny consciousnesses combine to create larger experiences.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nouncombination problem (plural combination problems)

plural combination problems

  1. human sciencesA problem arising from the tension between the seemingly irreducible nature of consciousness, and its ubiquity. If consciousness is ubiquitous, and every atom (or every bit, depending on the theory) has a minimal level of it, then it is not clear how these tiny consciousnesses combine to create larger experiences.

Origin

This name was coined by William Seager in 1995.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

combination problem. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/combination%20problem

MLA

“combination problem.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/combination%20problem. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “combination problem,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/combination%20problem.

Source: combination problem on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.