a psychological definition is about a person’s thoughts, perceived in a continuous flow. William James introduced the idea in his Principles of Psychology (1890).
For example, the hard question of consciousness is being tackled by Donald Hoffman.
But consciousness is not just the imagination running like a river.
Or the surreal images of art like melting clocks by Salvador Dali.
There is the philosophy of a matrix like reality, something beyond time and space (not the twilight zone!), and quite literally the ghost in the machine (not a spirit!)
To use the language of science is not enough to procure proof.
Words are not enough, either is language.
Yes, philosophy will help science, but is not science.
Perhaps, imagination will light the way.