Consciousness and Qualia: How Do Consciousness and Symbols Relate?

Philosophical inquiry into consciousness has traditionally relied on language and logic, primarily studying adult humans. Language enhances abstract thought and conscious experience, with Descartes' "Cogito ergo sum" ("I think, therefore I am") serving as a foundational premise: one cannot doubt one's own consciousness. The abstract argues that modern philosophical research on consciousness remains largely based on abstract thinking, though recent philosophers, especially since the 1990s, have begun integrating neuroscientific findings into their work.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Consciousness has long been a focus of philosophical inquiry. Philosophers have employed thoughts supported by language and logic as a primary tool to examine the essence and structure of consciousness in mostly adult humans. Language elevates the abstraction of thought and has significantly contributed to the advancement of civilization. Within an individual, language plays a significant role to advance complexity in thought processes and provide richness to a variety of conscious experience. In this sense, modern philosophical research on consciousness is largely based on abstract thinking. Among the many critical thoughts, one of the most fundamental is Descartes’ famous dictum “Cogito ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”). From a viewpoint of consciousness, this implies “I cannot doubt the presence of my own consciousness.” Since Descartes, philosophical research on consciousness remained primarily dependent on logical and linguistic reasoning, while recent philosophers (especially after the 1990s, the second generation) started to incorporate neuroscientific insights into their thesis.