How to Mitigate the Hard Problem by Adopting the Dual Theory of Phenomenal Consciousness.
Frontiers in Psychology 2019 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02837 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Phenomenal consciousness Unconscious phenomenality |
| Citations | 29 |
| Key points | Proposes that the hard problem of consciousness is partly an artifact of the unitary approach, and that a non-unitary conception of experience reduces the mystery of consciousness. |
Abstract
In this paper, we propose the following hypothesis: the hard problem of consciousness is in part an artifact of what we call the unitary approach to phenomenal consciousness. The defining mark of the unitary approach is that it views consciousness and phenomenality as inseparable. Giving up this conceptual commitment redefines, in a productive way, the explanatory tasks of the theory of consciousness. Adopting a non-unitary conception of experience does not make the hard problem of consciousness go away completely but it shifts the locus of where the explanation of experience gets difficult, and cuts down the mystery of consciousness to size. Other advantages of the non-unitary account of consciousness are sketched as well.