The Appearances to be Explained
Routledge eBooks June 28, 2023 DOI: 10.4324/9781003411581-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that first-person access appears to reveal indescribable, simple properties only contingently linked to the mind's structural and functional features, and that this appearance makes the "hard problem" of consciousness seem real. Contends that these appearances must be explained in easy scientific terms for the debunking argument to succeed. |
Abstract
This chapter lays out in detail the problematic appearances of consciousness requiring explanation. Considerations from pessimists like Chalmers and Joseph Levine are considered, and the chapter distills out the claim that our first-person access seems to put us in direct contact with indescribable, simple properties, properties only contingently connected to the structural, dynamical, and functional features of the mind. The chapter argues that these appearances make it seem that there is a hard problem and they must be explained in easy scientific terms if the debunking argument is to succeed.