Single Idea 5805

[catalogued under 16. Persons / C. Self-Awareness / 1. Introspection]

Full Idea

The 'problem' of introspection evaporates once one understands that it is not a process in which one looks inward.

Gist of Idea

Introspection does not involve looking inwards

Source

Fred Dretske (Naturalizing the Mind [1997], §2)

Book Reference

Dretske,Fred: 'Naturalizing the Mind' [MIT 1997], p.41


A Reaction

I take it that when we introspect we look at the contents of thoughts, which are representations of the external world, on the whole. But surely only the connections of those contents with memories can be seen inwardly?