Combining Texts

Ideas for 'works', 'Does Consciousness Exist?' and 'Animal Rights and Wrongs'

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2 ideas

15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / d. Purpose of consciousness
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.
15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / e. Cause of consciousness
Consciousness is not a stuff, but is explained by the relations between experiences [James]
     Full Idea: Consciousness connotes a kind of external relation, and not a special stuff or way of being. The peculiarity of our experiences, that they not only are, but are known, is best explained by their relations to one another, the relations being experiences.
     From: William James (Does Consciousness Exist? [1904], §3)
     A reaction: This view has suddenly caught people's interest. It might be better than the higher/lower relationship, which seems to leave the basic problem untouched. Does a whole network of relations between experiences gradually 'add up' to consciousness?