Abstract
Is phenomenal consciousness constitutively related to cognitive access? Despite being a fundamental issue for any science of consciousness, its empirical study faces a severe methodological puzzle. Recent years have seen numerous attempts to address this puzzle, either in practice, by offering evidence for a positive or negative answer, or in principle, by proposing a framework for eventual resolution. The present paper critically considers these endeavours, including partial-report, metacognitive and no-report paradigms, as well as the
theoretical proposal that we can make progress by studying phenomenal consciousness as a natural kind. It is argued that the methodological puzzle remains obdurately with us and that, for now, we must adopt an attitude of humility towards the phenomenal.
theoretical proposal that we can make progress by studying phenomenal consciousness as a natural kind. It is argued that the methodological puzzle remains obdurately with us and that, for now, we must adopt an attitude of humility towards the phenomenal.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 20170347 |
Journal | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |
Volume | 373 |
Issue number | 1755 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 30 Jul 2018 |
Keywords
- phenomenal consciousness
- cognitive access
- methodological puzzle
- phenomenal overflow
- partial-report paradigms
- no-report paradigms