On the alleged impossibility of understanding consciousness
Central to contemporary philosophy of mind are two questions: what is consciousness, and how is consciousness related to the world? This thesis is concerned with sceptical responses to such questions, responses that take a number of forms. Some claim that empirical data undermine the concept of consciousness, such that it makes sense to say that 'consciousness' will go the way of phlogiston, signatures and spirits. Others argue that consciousness is beyond our ken; our cognitive faculties, in other words, are not up to the job of understanding consciousness. Still others maintain that consciousness is simply not amenable to the kind of understanding we seek. This thesis is an attempt to clarify these positions, and others like them, and determine whether or not there really are good reasons for thinking that consciousness cannot be understood. In the end, I hope to show that none of the arguments offered by those sceptical about the prospects for understanding consciousness are convincing.
Garvey, James Mackenzie
On the alleged impossibility of understanding consciousness. Central to contemporary philosophy of mind are two questions: what is consciousness, and how is consciousness related to the world? This thesis is concerned with sceptical responses to such questions, responses that take a number of forms. Some claim that empirical data undermine the concept of consciousness, such that it makes sense to say that 'consciousness' will go the way of phlogiston, signatures and spirits. Others argue that consciousness is beyond our ken; our cognitive faculties, in other words, are not up to the job of understanding consciousness. Still others maintain that consciousness is simply not amenable to the kind of understanding we seek. This thesis is an attempt to clarify these positions, and others like them, and determine whether or not there really are good reasons for thinking that consciousness cannot be understood. In the end, I hope to show that none of the arguments offered by those sceptical about the prospects for understanding consciousness are convincing.
allege impossibility consciousness central contemporary_philosophy mind two_question consciousness consciousness relate world concerned sceptical response question response take number form claim empirical_data undermine concept consciousness make_sense say consciousness way signatures spirit others argue consciousness beyond cognitive faculty word job consciousness still others maintain consciousness simply kind seek attempt_clarify position others like determine_whether really good_reason think consciousness understood end hope_show none argument offer sceptical prospect consciousness convincing