Single Idea 2423

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / e. Cause of consciousness]

Full Idea

Moving down the scale from lizards to slugs, there doesn't seem much reason to suppose that phenomenology should wink out while a reasonably complex perceptual psychology persists….and if you move on down to thermostats, where would it wink out?

Gist of Idea

Going down the scale, where would consciousness vanish?

Source

David J.Chalmers (The Conscious Mind [1996], 3.8.4)

Book Reference

Chalmers,David J.: 'The Conscious Mind' [OUP 1997], p.295


A Reaction

This doesn't seem much of an argument, particularly if its conclusion is that there is phenomenology in thermostats. When day changes into night, where does it 'wink out'? Are we to conclude that night doesn't exist, or that day doesn't exist?