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Single Idea 7889

[from 'Thinking about Consciousness' by David Papineau, in 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / a. Consciousness ]

Full Idea

Our phenomenal concept of consciousness-as-such is a crude tool, lacking theoretical articulation

Gist of Idea

Our concept of consciousness is crude, and lacks theoretical articulation

Source

David Papineau (Thinking about Consciousness [2002], 7.13)

Book Reference

Papineau,David: 'Thinking about Consciousness' [OUP 2004], p.215


A Reaction

This is a point well made. Given that the human brain is the most complex thing (for its size) in the known universe, we shouldn't expect it to divide up into three or four clear-cut activities. Compare the precision of 'geography' as a concept.