Single Idea 5341

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 3. Privacy]

Full Idea

It is easy to explain why certain brain events are uniquely experienced by you subjectively: only you are properly hooked up to your own nervous system to have your own experiences.

Gist of Idea

Only you can have your subjective experiences because only you are hooked up to your nervous system

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Problem of the Soul [2002], p. 87)

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Problem of the Soul' [Basic Books 2003], p.87


A Reaction

This is in reply to Nagel's oft quoted claim that mind can only be understood as "what it is like to be" that mind. I agree with Flanagan, and it is nice illustration of how philosophers can confuse themselves with high-sounding questions.