Begging the question against phenomenal consciousness
Article Abstract:
Dennett and Kinsbourne argue against the existence of phenomenal consciousness yet their arguments only strengthen the factual basis of this concept. Phenomenal consciousness answers an individual's questions on 'what it is like,' or 'how it feels,' however, science still cannot offer a logical explanation on how and why neural interactions allow us to feel like this rather than another way. Tha brain allows some events to be phenomenally conscious while others are not. Theorists do not agree about subjective experiences but they agree on the existence of subjects' judgments.
Publication Name: Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0140-525X
Year: 1992
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Consciousness is associated with central as well as distributed processes
Article Abstract:
Dennett and Kinsbourne's thesis may be an extreme point of view since their Multiple Drafts model denies consciousness's integrative functions. To be conscious requires some degree of functional control and coordination of deliberation and action. The brain chooses a particular course of action given a situation. The brain's predominant processing stream incorporates and refines information from memory banks to arrive at a decision. Lastly, the brain has the power to select among multiple consciousness streams but its decision is limited by certain integrative constraints.
Publication Name: Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0140-525X
Year: 1992
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The where and when of what?
Article Abstract:
The arguments presented by Dennett and Kinsbourne are ambiguous. They imply that consciousness does not exist since it cannot be measured nor pinpointed. Eliminativism is also implied by denying that conscious experiences are temporally located. The assertion that the temporal boundaries of experience are vague is a truism and does not have any bearing on Cartesian materialism at all.
Publication Name: Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Subject: Psychology and mental health
ISSN: 0140-525X
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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