Trivialisms about Explanatory Gap
Cong Chen
Kriterion – Journal of Philosophy January 19, 2026 DOI: 10.1515/krt-2025-0017 (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 | Metaphysics Explanatory power Explanatory model Philosophy of science Epistemology |
| Key points | Argues that the phenomenal explanatory gap may not be as special as widely assumed, and that there are fewer reasons to posit it than other explanatory gaps. |
Abstract
Abstract A spectre of anti-physicalism haunts philosophy of mind: we seem unable to explain how the phenomenal arises from the physical. Rather than repeat clichés about the profundity of this explanatory gap, in this paper, I defend a set of Trivialisms, which suggest the phenomenal explanatory gap may not be as special as widely assumed. I start with surveying Schaffer’s modest Trivialism, combining anti-exceptionalism (gaps are everywhere) and the thesis of non-specialness (the phenomenal one is not uniquely special), and respond to Aleksiev’s critique. Then I develop a more radical Trivialism, arguing from epistemic insensitivity that we have fewer reasons to posit the phenomenal gap than others (e.g., mereological). Finally, I address some potential objections including those from metaontological deflationism, the possibility of a priori metaphysical knowledge, among others.
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