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Full Idea
Some physiologists maintain that the human brain is equipped with two different visual systems, an older one and a more recently evolved one, only the first of which is intact in blindsight subjects.
Gist of Idea
The brain may have two systems for vision, with only the older one intact in blindsight
Source
E.J. Lowe (Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind [2000], Ch. 6)
Book Ref
Lowe,E.J.: 'Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind' [CUP 2000], p.157
A Reaction
Ramachandran (on TV) suggested that lizards lack the newer system, and therefore may not actually be conscious. The proposal of two systems seems to make nice sense of an odd phenomenon. We clearly have a non-conscious route to visual information.
| 23240 | We can't know by sight or hearing without realising that we are doing so [Fichte] |
| 7372 | In peripheral vision we see objects without their details, so blindsight is not that special [Dennett] |
| 7373 | Blindsight subjects glean very paltry information [Dennett] |
| 2953 | Fish may operate by blindsight [Lockwood] |
| 2415 | In blindsight both qualia and intentionality are missing [Chalmers] |
| 4918 | In blindsight V1 (normal vision) is inactive, but V5 (movement) lights up [Carter,R] |
| 6646 | The brain may have two systems for vision, with only the older one intact in blindsight [Lowe] |