I think we're more likely to make intellectual progress on consciousness by either redefining it in a more objectively rigorous way, or (more likely IMO) abandoning it as a philosophical construct analogous to "the soul" and focusing research on a subset of phenomena that can be rigorously defined.
It seems to me like discussions of "consciousness" here on HN seem to frequently devolve into arguments over the semantics of that particular word. That feels more philosophical than scientific to me.
Because the philosophical part is the only reason we care what consciousness is. Otherwise we are just talking about, what, perceptive abilities? Reactions to stimuli? That's all well and good, but we can't as easily use that to justify our enslavement and/or slaughter of other beings.
It seems to me like discussions of "consciousness" here on HN seem to frequently devolve into arguments over the semantics of that particular word. That feels more philosophical than scientific to me.