philosopher's zombie

A philosophical zombie, or "p-zombie," is a hypothetical concept used in philosophy of mind. It describes a being that behaves exactly like a normal human—talking, moving, reacting—but lacks conscious experience or inner awareness. In other words, it shows no signs of feelings, sensations, or thoughts, despite outwardly appearing conscious. The idea challenges the understanding of consciousness by suggesting that it’s possible for all observable behavior to exist without any underlying subjective experience. Philosophers use p-zombies to debate whether consciousness is something else beyond physical processes or if behavior alone can define awareness.