2010-04-30
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Describing zombies
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Derek AllanAustralian National University
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Here is a much more fundamental (and blindingly obvious) objection to the "zombie hypothesis". It takes the form of a definition of a "zimbie".
"A zimbie is physically identical to a normal
human being, but completely lacks Factor X."
Now, what can we say about a zimbie? What can it do, not do, etc, that a "normal human being"* can't?
Answer: We have absolutely no idea. Why? Because we don't know what "Factor X" is.
So if we think we know what a zombie can do, not do etc, we must already know what consciousness is - i.e. what we mean by the idea.
So the Chalmers definition of a zombie can only work (can only make sense) if we already know what consciousness is - i.e. what we mean by the idea.
Conclusion:
The zombie hypothesis is nonsense (as nonsensical as the zimbie hypothesis) unless we already know what consciousness is - i.e.what we mean by it.
(And of course if we do already know, what is the point of the zombie hypothesis?)
DA
* I leave aside the obvious objections to the idea of a "normal human being".
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