Mental causation and Searle's impossible conception of unconscious intentionality
International Journal of Philosophical Studies 8 (2):155-170 (2000)
| Abstract | In my article I evaluate Searle's account of mental causation, in particular his account of the causal efficacy of unconscious intentional states. I argue that top-down causation and overdetermination are unsolved problems in Searle's philosophy of mind, despite his assurances to the contrary. I also argue that there are conflicting claims involved in his account of mental causation and his account of the unconscious. As a result, it becomes impossible to understand how unconscious intentional states can be causally efficacious. My conclusion will be that if Searle's conception of unconscious intentionality is to play a genuine role in the causal explanation of human action, it needs to be rethought | |||||||||
| Keywords | Causation Intentionality Mental Metaphysics Searle, J | |||||||||
| Categories | ||||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
Upload a copy of this paper Check publisher's policy on self-archival Papers currently archived: 5,672 |
| External links |
 |
| Through your library | Configure |
Similar books and articlesNorman Malcolm (1991). I Believe That "P"'. In Ernest LePore & Robert Van Gulick (eds.), John Searle and His Critics. Cambridge: Blackwell.
John R. Searle (1983). Intentionality: An Essay in the Philosophy of Mind. Cambridge University Press.
David L. Thompson (1986). Intentionality and Causality in John Searle. Canadian Journal of Philosophy 16 (March):83-97.
Charles E. M. Dunlop (2000). Searle's Unconscious Mind. Philosophical Psychology 13 (1):123-148.
Dale Jacquette (1989). Searle's Intentionality Thesis. Synthese 80 (August):267-75.
John R. Searle (2000). Mental Causation, Conscious and Unconscious: A Reply to Anthonie Meijers. International Journal of Philosophical Studies 8 (2):171-177.
Anthonie W. M. Meijers (2000). Physical and Mental? Reply to John Searle. International Journal of Philosophical Studies 8 (2):179 – 183.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2009-01-28Total downloads71 ( #11,949 of 549,069 )Recent downloads (6 months)3 ( #25,703 of 549,069 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
