Single Idea 4090

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 5. Qualia / c. Explaining qualia]

Full Idea

Weak intentionalism says all mental states are intentional, but qualia are higher-order properties of these states. ..Strong intentionalists say the phenomenal character of a sensation consists purely in that state's intentionality.

Clarification

'Intentionalism' is the view that all mental states are essentially thoughts 'about' something

Gist of Idea

Weak intentionalism says qualia are extra properties; strong intentionalism says they are intentional

Source

Tim Crane (Elements of Mind [2001], 3.25)

Book Reference

Crane,Tim: 'Elements of Mind' [OUP 2001], p.83


A Reaction

The weak version sounds better. Asking 'how could a thought have a quality of experience just by being about something?' is a restatement of the traditional problem, which won't go away. The Hard Question.