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Single Idea 7111

[from 'Transcendence of the Ego' by Jean-Paul Sartre, in 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / f. Higher-order thought ]

Full Idea

The existence of consciousness is an absolute, because consciousness is consciousness of itself; the type of existence that consciousness has is that it is consciousness of itself.

Gist of Idea

Consciousness exists as consciousness of itself

Source

Jean-Paul Sartre (Transcendence of the Ego [1937], I (A))

Book Reference

Sartre,Jean-Paul: 'The Transcendence of the Ego' [Routledge 2004], p.7


A Reaction

I find this unconvincing. Anyone analysis the nature of the mind should think as much about animal minds as human minds. It seems obvious to me that there is likely to be an animal consciousness which is entirely of environment and its body.