Single Idea 4166

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / a. Consciousness]

Full Idea

A consciousness without an object is no consciousness.

Gist of Idea

A consciousness without an object is no consciousness

Source

Arthur Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Idea [1819], I Supp)

Book Reference

Schopenhauer,Arthur: 'The World as Will and Idea', ed/tr. Berman,Jill and David [Everyman 1995], p.20


A Reaction

This hints at Hume's observations about the self. Certainly totally vacant consciousness seems inconceivable, but is that a necessary or a contingent truth?

Related Ideas

Idea 19573 The seat of the soul is where our inner and outer worlds interpenetrate [Novalis]

Idea 21452 I can only determine my existence in time via external things [Kant]

Idea 22210 After everything is bracketed, consciousness still has a unique being of its own [Husserl]