Philosophy of Science 67 (4):648-670 (2000)
Abstract |
Arguments about the evolutionary function of phenomenal consciousness are beset by the problem of epiphenomenalism. For if it is not clear whether phenomenal consciousness has a causal role, then it is difficult to begin an argument for the evolutionary role of phenomenal consciousness. We argue that complexity arguments offer a way around this problem. According to evolutionary biology, the structural complexity of a given organ can provide evidence that the organ is an adaptation, even if nothing is known about the causal role of the organ. Evidence from cognitive neuropsychology suggests that phenomenal consciousness is structurally complex in the relevant way, and this provides prima facie evidence that phenomenal consciousness is an adaptation. Furthermore, we argue that the complexity of phenomenal consciousness might also provide clues about the causal role of phenomenal consciousness
|
Keywords | Adaptation Biology Complexity Consciousness Evolution Science |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
DOI | 10.1086/392859 |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
The Conscious Mind: In Search of a Fundamental Theory.David J. Chalmers - 1996 - Oxford University Press.
On a Confusion About a Function of Consciousness.Ned Block - 1995 - Brain and Behavioral Sciences 18 (2):227-–247.
Consciousness Explained.Daniel C. Dennett - 1993 - Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 53 (4):905-910.
View all 34 references / Add more references
Citations of this work BETA
On the Evolution of Conscious Attention.Harry Haroutioun Haladjian & Carlos Montemayor - 2015 - Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 22 (3):595-613.
Is Consciousness a Spandrel?Zack Robinson, Corey J. Maley & Gualtiero Piccinini - 2015 - Journal of the American Philosophical Association 1 (2):365--383.
How Well Do We Know Our Own Conscious Experience? The Case of Visual Imagery.Eric Schwitzgebel - 2002 - Journal of Consciousness Studies 9 (5-6):35-53.
Rethinking the Evolution of Consciousness.Thomas Polger - 2007 - In Susan Schneider & Max Velmans (eds.), The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness. Blackwell. pp. 72--87.
View all 12 citations / Add more citations
Similar books and articles
Phenomenal Consciousness and Intentionality.Dana K. Nelkin - 2001 - PSYCHE: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Research On Consciousness 7.
Phenomenal Consciousness so-Called.Austen Clark - 2001 - In Werner Backhaus (ed.), Neuronal Coding of Perceptual Systems. World Scientific.
The Ontology of Creature Consciousness: A Challenge for Philosophy.Gualtiero Piccinini - 2007 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 30 (1):103-104.
Relationalism and the Problems of Consciousness.William Fish - 2008 - Teorema: International Journal of Philosophy 28 (3):167-80.
Could Phenomenal Consciousness Function as a Cognitive Unconscious?Max Velmans - 2002 - Behavioral and Brain Sciences 25 (3):357-358.
Consciousness: Phenomenal Consciousness, Access Consciousness, and Scientific Practice.Uriah Kriegel - 2007 - In Paul R. Thagard (ed.), Handbook of the Philosophy of Psychology and Cognitive Science. Elsevier.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2009-01-28
Total views
164 ( #72,466 of 2,519,276 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #407,861 of 2,519,276 )
2009-01-28
Total views
164 ( #72,466 of 2,519,276 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #407,861 of 2,519,276 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads