Conscious Control over Action.
Mind & Language June 1, 2015 DOI: 10.1111/mila.12082 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that although nonconscious processes contribute substantially to the control of overt bodily action, "zombie challenges" that seek to demote conscious control are overblown; the author develops an account of conscious control informed by models of bodily action control and contends these challenges do not succeed in showing consciousness is unimportant for human agency. |
Abstract
The extensive involvement of nonconscious processes in human behaviour has led some to suggest that consciousness is much less important for the control of action than we might think. In this article I push against this trend, developing an understanding of conscious control that is sensitive to our best models of overt (that is, bodily) action control. Further, I assess the cogency of various zombie challenges-challenges that seek to demote the importance of conscious control for human agency. I argue that though nonconscious contributions to action control are evidently robust, these challenges are overblown.