Single Idea 2395

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / D. Property Dualism / 5. Supervenience of mind]

Full Idea

It seems logically possible that a creature physically identical to a conscious creature might have no conscious experiences (a zombie)…so conscious experience supervenes naturally but not logically on the physical.

Gist of Idea

Zombies imply natural but not logical supervenience

Source

David J.Chalmers (The Conscious Mind [1996], 1.2.1)

Book Reference

Chalmers,David J.: 'The Conscious Mind' [OUP 1997], p.38


A Reaction

"It seems possible" isn't much of an argument. This claim by Chalmers has been a great incentive to reassess what is or isn't possible. Can a brain lack consciousness? Can a tree fall over silently? Can cyanide stop poisoning us?