Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Parmenides', 'Animal Rights and Wrongs' and 'Essays on Intellectual Powers 6: Judgement'

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2 ideas

15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / a. Consciousness

23658	Consciousness is an indefinable and unique operation [Reid]
	Full Idea: Consciousness is an operation of the understanding of its own kind, and cannot be logically defined.
	From: Thomas Reid (Essays on Intellectual Powers 6: Judgement [1785], 5)
	A reaction: It is interesting that has tried to define consciousness, rather than just assuming it. I note that he calls consciousness an 'operation', rather than an entity. Good.

15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / d. Purpose of consciousness

4271	There is consciousness whenever behaviour must be explained in terms of mental activity [Scruton]
	Full Idea: There is consciousness whenever behaviour must be explained in terms of mental activity.
	From: Roger Scruton (Animal Rights and Wrongs [1996], p.23)
	A reaction: Not a point that would trouble an eliminativist, as it sounds suspiciously circular or question-begging.