Single Idea 2416

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / e. Cause of consciousness]

Full Idea

Given the necessity of awareness, any candidate for an underlying law will have the form "Awareness plus something gives rise to consciousness" (…but simplicity suggests leaving out the 'something').

Gist of Idea

What turns awareness into consciousness?

Source

David J.Chalmers (The Conscious Mind [1996], 3.6.5)

Book Reference

Chalmers,David J.: 'The Conscious Mind' [OUP 1997], p.244


A Reaction

You can't leave out the 'something' if you think awareness without consciousness is possible. The phenomenon of blindsight suggests that a whole extra brain area must come into play to produce the consciousness. It may not have a distinct ontology.