more on this theme | more from this thinker
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 Ref
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.
| 4690 | If meaning is speaker's intentions, it can be reduced to propositional attitudes, and philosophy of mind [McGinn] |
| 4691 | If all mental life were conscious, we would be unable to see things, or to process speech [McGinn] |