Comment by aaroninsf

That definition is in fact the predominant one today in serious circles: consciousness proper is not itself inclusive of the things which consider to define a continuous coherent self.

I.e. the "self" is not the same as what it means to experience consciousness.

There are for example well characterized examples of memory disruption under the influence of various drugs (e.g. as used intentionally in anesthesia); and neurological conditions which produce various kinds of amnesia.

Do these conditions mean someone is not conscious? We have the luxury of asking people directly.

More unsettling edges yet include things like so-called "split brain" patients or people suffering form serious psychological conditions like so-called "multiple personalities." Psychology does get great mileage out pathology!