Single Idea 5809

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / d. Purpose of consciousness]

Full Idea

Some tasks (playing the piano, speaking foreign languages, playing fast sports) are best performed when the agent is largely unconscious of the details.

Gist of Idea

Some activities are performed better without consciousness of them

Source

Fred Dretske (Naturalizing the Mind [1997], Ch.4 n16)

Book Reference

Dretske,Fred: 'Naturalizing the Mind' [MIT 1997], p.182


A Reaction

A significant point, but it supports the evolutionary view, which is that what matters is success, and consciousness will switch on or off, whichever promotes the activity best.