What is it like to be …?
Susan Blackmore, Emily T. Troscianko
April 27, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9781315755021-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Citations | 3 |
| Key points | Argues that although consciousness lacks a recognised definition, many researchers frame it via the question of what it is like to be a bat, and reviews philosophical debates over phenomenal versus access consciousness, 'qualia', and thought experiments such as 'Mary the colour scientist' and the 'Philosopher's zombie'. The paper outlines five possible responses to the hard problem, including that it is insoluble, that it must be solved, that easy problems should be tackled, that more hard problems should be found, and that there is no hard problem. |
Abstract
Although there is no recognised definition of consciousness, many researchers refer back to the famous question, ‘What is it like to be a bat?’ If there is anything it is like for the bat, that is what is meant by being conscious. This is also called ‘phenomenal consciousness’ (P-consciousness) or ‘phenomenality’ and is sometimes contrasted with ‘access consciousness’ (A-consciousness). Problems with this distinction are discussed. Philosophers refer to specific conscious experiences (like the colour red or the smell of coffee) as ‘qualia’, although this concept is also disputed. Some well-known thought experiments are used to illustrate these debates, including ‘Mary the colour scientist’ (who knows all the physical information about colour vision but has never left her black-and-white room) and the ‘Philosopher’s zombie’: a creature that is physically indistinguishable from a normal person but has no conscious experiences. This zombie is clearly conceivable, but is it possible? The many arguments about this are reviewed. We then return to the hard problem and possible responses to it: 1) The hard problem is insoluble, 2) We must try to solve it, 3) We should tackle the easy problems, 4) We should find more hard problems, and 5) There is no hard problem.