Single Idea 4691

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 2. Unconscious Mind]

Full Idea

If there were nothing more to our mind than our conscious awareness, then we would be unable to see anything or to process speech.

Gist of Idea

If all mental life were conscious, we would be unable to see things, or to process speech

Source

Colin McGinn (The Making of a Philosopher [2002], Ch. 6)

Book Reference

McGinn,Colin: 'The Making of a Philosopher' [Scribner 2003], p.174


A Reaction

A vital point. Traditional dualism has left us a simplistic exaggeration of the role of consciousness, and the misapprehension that most of what we do is conscious - which it clearly isn't, once you think about it.