Explanatory Optimism
June 28, 2023 DOI: 10.4324/9781003411581-1 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the pessimists' worry about the hard problem of consciousness can be undercut by a properly framed debunking argument, and that the historical success of naturalistic scientific explanation motivates the optimists' position that consciousness can be explained in ordinary scientific terms of structure, dynamics, and function. |
Abstract
This chapter introduces the debate between explanatory pessimists and optimists on the hard problem of consciousness. Pessimists reject the claim that consciousness can be explained in ordinary scientific terms of structure, dynamics, and function. Optimists accept this claim. The chapter then motivates the optimists’ position by considering the historical success of naturalistic, scientific explanation and shows how a properly framed debunking argument can undercut the pessimists’ worry about the hard problem.