Empirical status of Block's phenomenal/access distinction
Behavioral and Brain Sciences March 1, 1997 Bruce Mangan 2 citations
Block's distinction between phenomenal consciousness (P) and access consciousness (A) mixes a logical distinction with an empirical claim. The logical usefulness of the P/A distinction does not make it plausible as an empirical thesis that two kinds of consciousness actually exist. It is unclear whether the P/A distinction offers any advantage over assuming a single kind of consciousness. One of Block's analogies—comparing P to liquid in a hydraulic computer—can help clarify the idea of consciousness as cognitive hardware.