Conscious vision and the perils of Cartesian materialism.
Behavioral and Brain Sciences June 25, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x25103014 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that assumptions about consciousness having distinct functions, a moment of occurrence, and measurability lead to Cartesian materialism and unanswerable questions, and proposes an alternative view. |
Abstract
The authors make common assumptions that I reject: that consciousness has functions distinct from those of the brain processes on which it depends, that there is a moment at which consciousness happens, and that consciousness itself can be measured. This leads to Cartesian materialism and asking such unanswerable questions as when and why consciousness evolved. An alternative view is proposed.