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The Neo-Russellian Ignorance Hypothesis : a hybrid account of phenomenal consciousness
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McClelland, Tom (2013) The Neo-Russellian Ignorance Hypothesis : a hybrid account of phenomenal consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 20 (3-4). pp. 125-151. ISSN 1355-8250.
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Official URL: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/imp/jcs/2013...
Abstract
We have reason to believe that phenomenal properties are
nothing over and above certain physical properties. However, doubt
is cast on this by the apparent epistemic gap that arises for attempts to
account for phenomenal properties in physical terms. I argue that the
epistemic gap should be divided into two more fundamental concep-
tual gaps. The first of these pertains to the distinctive subjectivity of
phenomenal states, and the second pertains to the intrinsicality of
phenomenal qualities. Stoljar’s ignorance hypothesis (IH) attempts to
undermine the epistemic gap by arguing that the apparent inexplica-
bility of the phenomenal is merely a symptom of our limited concep-
tion of the non-experiential world. I establish some obstacles to IH,
and argue that the correct analysis of the epistemic gap means these
obstacles can only partially be overcome. I propose, nonetheless, that
IH can still be put to good use as half of a hybrid account of phenome-
nal consciousness. The proposal combines a self-representationalist
account of the subjectivity of phenomenal states with a Russellian ver-
sion of IH that accommodates the qualitative character of those
states. This neo-Russellian ignorance hypothesis (NRIH) credibly
undermines the appearance of an epistemic gap between the physical
and the phenomenal.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) | ||||
| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Philosophy | ||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Consciousness Studies | ||||
| Publisher: | Imprint Academic | ||||
| ISSN: | 1355-8250 | ||||
| Official Date: | 1 January 2013 | ||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | 20 | ||||
| Number: | 3-4 | ||||
| Page Range: | pp. 125-151 | ||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
| Related URLs: |
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