Self-consciousness, ψ and φ
THEORIA An International Journal for Theory History and Foundations of Science April 12, 2026 Carlota Serrahima
The paper advances an integrative account of psychological and bodily self-consciousness by adapting José Luis Bermúdez's terminology: psychological self-consciousness is called ψ-ownership and bodily self-consciousness φ-ownership. It first lays out a methodological framework for studying both domains, specifying three desiderata that apply to each, and clarifies the relationship between ownership and immunity to error through misidentification. This reveals deep similarities between the two types of self-consciousness. The paper then critically examines Bermúdez's explanation of bodily immunity to error and his defense of the phenomenology of bodily ownership, arguing that his strategy, despite his advocacy for integration, ultimately prevents the integrative project from being completed.