Mind
John L. Schellenberg
October 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1093/9780197902141.003.0010 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the problem of consciousness is best treated as a bundle of separate questions, only some of which suit the current stage of inquiry, and that Colin McGinn's pessimism about the problem's tractability relies on unwarranted assumptions about the permanence and limits of present modes of inquiry (his notion of "CALM"). |
Abstract
Abstract Chapter 7 shifts from realism and knowledge to mind, arguing that stage-sensitive reasoning both clarifies and reshapes the problem of consciousness and undermines Colin McGinn’s influential pessimism about its ultimate tractability. It proposes a “separative” approach, according to which the traditional problem is best understood as a bundle of distinct questions, only some of which are appropriate to our present stage of development. By focusing on those parts that are likely to yield to current inquiry, the chapter suggests that the problem of consciousness, properly framed, can be addressed. It then turns to McGinn’s pessimism, arguing that his case depends on unwarranted assumptions about the permanence and limitations of our current modes of inquiry (summarized in his notion of CALM). Early-stage considerations are brought to bear to show that these assumptions lack sufficient support from available evidence. The chapter thus illustrates how stage sensitivity can both reconceive a problem and restore confidence in its eventual resolution.