Unraveling the Mystery of Consciousness: Dr. Abe Witonsky and Abdur Shafin's Interdisciplinary Approach

Consciousness is something everyone has, yet the concept has eluded people for centuries. In short, consciousness is the awareness of one’s relationship with their internal and external worlds. Dr. Abe Witonsky (Philosophy) and his student Abdur Shafin ('26 Psychology), explored this profound topic in greater depth. 

This year, Dr. Abe Witonsky, Assistant Teaching Professor of Philosophy at Rowan University, in collaboration with a Fitchburg State University colleague, authored an interdisciplinary book exploring the multifaceted nature of consciousness. Covering metaphysics, disorders, and other issues related to consciousness, Philosophy students can expect to reference the text in Witonksy’s Spring 2025 class, Philosophy of the Mind.  

“We're basically focusing on one type of consciousness,” Witonsky explained. “The kind you have when the world seems, appears, or feels a certain way. For example, when you feel pain, there's a felt quality to it. We want to understand how that fits into the brain, what scientists have to say about this, and how it relates to free will and altered states of consciousness.”  

Shafin joined the venture after approaching Witonsky for additional work outside of class. “I personally went to him asking if there was anything I could work on with him outside of class, and he mentioned this book.” His primary responsibility was formulating reflection questions that prompted students to think deeper about the text. “At the end of the day, students are the ones solving the questions. If I put my perspective into it, it's going to be better.” Shafin’s passion for the project shone even while the Internet was down for over a month in his home, Bangladesh.  

Currently, the manuscript is being reviewed for edits. Witonsky hopes the book will be ready for its debut ahead of his Philosophy of the Mind class in Spring 2025. “There’s nothing out there on the market that takes this interdisciplinary approach,” Witonsky added. Ultimately, Witonsky’s wish is to see the book adopted by other colleagues and universities, with aspirations to become a best-selling author.