Assumption and Metaphysics in Empirical Consciousness Science

This article goes against the view expressed by Klein (2021) that empirical approaches to consciousness are compromised by a necessary commitment to metaphysical materialism. I will show why this is far from the case in that scientific methodology in and of itself is open to any ontological position in the mind-body debate. I will, however, show how metaphysical positions do become a challenge in empirical science in a different way-for example, with regards to how data are analyzed, say, in terms of what is considered signal and what is considered noise. I shall, however, also argue for a cautious optimistic position that such issues can be partly overcome or at least recognized and integrated into an intellectually advanced empirical science.