Structuring Mind: The Nature of Attention and how it Shapes ConsciousnessWhat is attention? How does attention shape consciousness? In an approach that engages with foundational topics in the philosophy of mind, the theory of action, psychology, and the neurosciences this book provides a unified and comprehensive answer to both questions. Sebastian Watzl shows that attention is a central structural feature of the mind. The first half of the book provides an account of the nature of attention. Attention is prioritizing, it consists in regulating priority structures. Attention is not another element of the mind, but constituted by structures that organize, integrate, and coordinate the parts of our mind. Attention thus integrates the perceptual and intellectual, the cognitive and motivational, and the epistemic and practical. The second half of the book concerns the relationship between attention and consciousness. Watzl argues that attentional structure shapes consciousness into what is central and what is peripheral. The center-periphery structure of consciousness cannot be reduced to the structure of how the world appears to the subject. What it is like for us thus goes beyond the way the world appears to us. On this basis, a new view of consciousness is offered. In each conscious experience we actively take a stance on the world we appear to encounter. It is in this sense that our conscious experience is our subjective perspective. |
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Structuring Mind: The Nature of Attention and how it Shapes Consciousness Sebastian Watzl Limited preview - 2017 |
Structuring Mind: The Nature of Attention and how it Shapes Consciousness Sebastian Watzl No preview available - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
According action activity agentive awareness appearance appearance properties appearance view argue argument aspect believe bodily centrality centrality system Chapter character claim color complex consciousness consider consists constituted contrast contribution depends directed discussion distinct effects evidence example existence experience explain fact feel field focus focused given goals guidance guided hearing hold idea intentional intentionally least look mechanisms mental mind motivational moving nature notion object occupies organism particular passive perceptual perspective phenomenal phenomenal consciousness phenomenal structure phenomenon plans position possible present priority structures priority system properties psychological psychological salience qualitative question reason relations relevant represented role salience seems selection sense shape similar single sound specific subject-level subject’s attention suggests Suppose task temporal things thought top priority unified unity visual