Zombies (philosophical zombies)

Philosophical zombies are hypothetical beings that behave exactly like normal humans—they can talk, feel pain, and act intentionally—but lack conscious experience or awareness. They do everything a conscious person does, yet no inner feelings or subjective sensations accompany their actions. This concept challenges the idea that outward behavior necessarily implies consciousness, prompting debates about the nature of consciousness and whether it can be fully explained by physical processes alone. Essentially, zombies highlight questions about whether consciousness is something extra beyond observable behavior or if it's embedded within physical functions.