The foundations of cognition : variations on the theme of an a priori structure of awareness
In the search for the foundations of cognition philosophers often encounter a familiar problem - the problem of content. The problem of content is essentially the problem of how content, whether experiential or intentional, is possible. In practice providing a response to this problem involves providing an account of how an active self-consciousness is able to conceive/perceive, or in some way be consciousness ofx. The unique nature of this problem imposes significant constraints on the field of explanatory possibilities. Since the x which is to be accounted for is essentially the possibility of absolutely any x there is no y which is not also an x. Hence, nothing remains outside of the explanandum which can be appealed to in order to account for it without, to some extent, presupposing that which needs to be explained. In many of the theories we will examine overcoming this problem involves appealing to a transcendental ~structure of awareness~ which more often than not is composed of ~universal-like~ transcendental ~entities~ of indeterminate nature and ontological status. A major appeal of transcendental entities (e.g., forms, species, essences, pure categories, and dharmas) is that they can at least appear
Kurak, Michael D.
B Philosophy (General)
The foundations of cognition : variations on the theme of an a priori structure of awareness. In the search for the foundations of cognition philosophers often encounter a familiar problem - the problem of content. The problem of content is essentially the problem of how content, whether experiential or intentional, is possible. In practice providing a response to this problem involves providing an account of how an active self-consciousness is able to conceive/perceive, or in some way be consciousness ofx. The unique nature of this problem imposes significant constraints on the field of explanatory possibilities. Since the x which is to be accounted for is essentially the possibility of absolutely any x there is no y which is not also an x. Hence, nothing remains outside of the explanandum which can be appealed to in order to account for it without, to some extent, presupposing that which needs to be explained. In many of the theories we will examine overcoming this problem involves appealing to a transcendental ~structure of awareness~ which more often than not is composed of ~universal-like~ transcendental ~entities~ of indeterminate nature and ontological status. A major appeal of transcendental entities (e.g., forms, species, essences, pure categories, and dharmas) is that they can at least appear
foundation cognition variation theme priori structure awareness search foundation cognition philosopher often encounter familiar problem problem content problem content essentially problem content whether experiential intentional possible practice provide response_problem involve provide_account active self_consciousness able conceive perceive way consciousness unique nature problem impose significant constraint field explanatory possibility since account essentially possibility absolutely also hence nothing remains outside appeal order account without extent presuppose need explain many theory examine overcome_problem involve appeal transcendental structure awareness often compose universal like transcendental entities indeterminate nature ontological status major appeal transcendental entity form specie essence pure category least appear