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Single Idea 3138

[from 'Contemporary Philosophy of Mind' by Georges Rey, in 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 5. Qualia / a. Nature of qualia ]

Full Idea

The contents of thoughts, beliefs and desires seem quite distinct from qualia. Arithmetic has no particular feeling attached to it, and Freud showed that many propositional attitudes have no feeling at all, as they are unconscious.

Clarification

Beliefs and fears are examples of 'propositional attitudes'

Gist of Idea

Arithmetic and unconscious attitudes have no qualia

Source

Georges Rey (Contemporary Philosophy of Mind [1997], 1.1.2)

Book Reference

Rey,Georges: 'Contemporary Philosophy of Mind' [Blackwell 1997], p.19


A Reaction

I don't think we should rule out 'pre-conscious' qualia. The fact that advanced human mental capacities like arithmetic have thinned out their qualia doesn't count against qualia being essential to normal mental life.