Single Idea 5799

[catalogued under 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 2. Reduction]

Full Idea

Eliminative reductions require a distinction between reality and appearance; for example, the sun appears to set but the reality is that the earth rotates.

Gist of Idea

Eliminative reduction needs a gap between appearance and reality, as in sunsets

Source

John Searle (The Mystery of Consciousness [1997], Concl 2.10)

Book Reference

Searle,John R.: 'The Mystery of Consciousness' [Granta 1997], p.212


A Reaction

A bad analogy. You don't 'eliminate' sunsets. It is just 'Galilean' relativity - you thought it was your train moving, then you discover it was the other one. You don't eliminate hallucinations when you show that they don't correspond to reality.