LizR wrote:
On 10 June 2015 at 20:38, Bruno Marchal <marc...@ulb.ac.be
On 10 Jun 2015, at 01:42, Bruce Kellett wrote:
LizR wrote:
On 10 June 2015 at 01:11, Bruce Kellett
That is less difficult that you might think. Consciousness
supervenes on the physical brain
So (a) what actually is consciousness?, and (b) what is the
answer to Maudlin and the MGA?
Consciousness is that which you lose under anaesthesia, or a
sufficiently severe blow to the head. Like many things, it is
defined ostensively.
Meaning you can point to it, but have no idea what it is. OK.
That's what an ostensive definition is. You seem to be after something
along the lines of Kant's 'ding an sich'. I can't give you that.
It is not clear what you mean when you as what it actually is?
Do you want a fully mechanistic account? Or a philosophical
account? Or a neurological account? Or a personal account?
It isn't me who wants it. You said "consciousness supervenes on the
brain" so I assumed you knew what you were talking about.
You asked me "what actually is consciousness?" so I assumed that it was
you who wanted to know. I certainly know what I mean when I say
"consciousness supervenes on the brain". Don't you understand what that
means?
What is the question of Maudlin and the MGA? Is a recording
conscious? Produce one of the required type (a complete and
accurate recording of normal conscious brain activity) and ask it.
You should read Maudlin's paper (and Bruno's of course) they aren't very
long, and then you will be up to speed on the arguments being employed.
Both these arguments are against physical supervenience, in different ways.
OK, so outline the argument in your own words. Even in Bruno's theory,
consciousness supervenes on brains -- he just has some different ideas
about what brains and consciousness might be.
Bruce
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