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Single Idea 3488

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

Full Idea

Freud thinks that our unconscious mental states exist as occurrent intrinsic intentional states even when unconscious. Their ontology is that of the mental, even when they are unconscious.

Gist of Idea

Freud treats the unconscious as intentional and hence mental

Source

report of Sigmund Freud (works [1900]) by John Searle - The Rediscovery of the Mind Ch. 7.V

Book Ref

Searle,John R.: 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' [MIT 1999], p.168


A Reaction

Searle states this view in order to attack it. Whether such states are labelled as 'mental' seems uninteresting. Whether unconscious states can be intentional is crucial, and modern scientific understanding of the brain strongly suggest they can.


The 18 ideas with the same theme [workings of mind hidden from consciousness]:

The movement of Soul is continuous, but we are only aware of the parts of it that are sensed [Plotinus]
I can't be unaware of anything which is in me [Descartes]
La Rochefoucauld's idea of disguised self-love implies an unconscious mind [Rochefoucauld, by Sartre]
If we aren't aware that an idea is innate, the concept of innate is meaningless; if we do, all ideas seem innate [Locke]
It is a serious mistake to think that we are aware of all of our perceptions [Leibniz]
The soul doesn't understand many of its own actions, if perceptions are confused and desires buried [Leibniz]
Half our thinking is unconscious, and we reach conclusions while unaware of premises [Schopenhauer]
We have hidden and unadmitted desires and fears, suppressed because of vanity [Schopenhauer]
Most of our lives, even the important parts, take place outside of consciousness [Nietzsche]
Whatever moves into consciousness becomes thereby much more superficial [Nietzsche]
Freud treats the unconscious as intentional and hence mental [Freud, by Searle]
Since we are a consciousness, Sartre entirely rejected the unconscious mind [Sartre, by Daigle]
Unconscious thoughts are those capable of causing conscious ones [Searle]
Consciousness results directly from brain processes, not from some intermediary like information [Searle]
If all mental life were conscious, we would be unable to see things, or to process speech [McGinn]
How come unconscious states also cause behaviour? [Lockwood]
Could there be unconscious beliefs and desires? [Lockwood]
Research suggest that we overrate conscious experience [Flanagan]