Single Idea 9285

[catalogued under 17. Mind and Body / E. Mind as Physical / 3. Eliminativism]

Full Idea

'Consciousness' is the name of a nonentity. ..Those who cling to it are clinging to a mere echo, the faint rumour left behind by the disappearing 'soul' upon the air of philosophy. ..I deny that it stands for an entity, but it does stand for a function.

Gist of Idea

'Consciousness' is a nonentity, a mere echo of the disappearing 'soul'

Source

William James (Does Consciousness Exist? [1904], Intro)

Book Reference

James,William: 'Selected Writings of William James', ed/tr. Bird,Graham [Everyman 1995], p.100


A Reaction

This kind of view is often treated as being preposterous, but I think it is correct. No one is denying the phenomenology, but it is the ontology which is at stake. Either you are a substance dualist, or mind must be eliminated as an 'entity'.