Inference and Consciousness

Inference is a central concern in epistemology and psychology, but consciousness has received less attention. This book explores how consciousness can enhance our understanding of inference and its role in mental capacities. It brings together original essays from established scholars and emerging theorists.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Inference has held a prominent place in the realm of epistemology, serving as a vital tool for expanding our knowledge and scrutinizing our beliefs. It also plays a significant role in influential psychological theories that encompass various mental abilities, such as problem-solving and perception.

Conversely, consciousness has emerged as a central focus in the philosophy of mind, captivating the attention of scholars for several decades. However, relatively little attention has been directed toward the importance of consciousness in understanding the nature and role of inference. It is often proposed that inference can occur either consciously or unconsciously. Nevertheless, the unity and explanatory priority of these purported instances of inference remain a subject of debate.

This book presents a collection of original essays from established scholars and emerging theorists, showcasing how several ongoing debates in epistemology, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of mind can benefit from further reflections on these and related questions concerning the significance of consciousness for inference.

In the first chapter, "Consciousness and Inference," the authors explore the relationship between consciousness and inference, examining how conscious experiences can shape our inferential processes and how inference can contribute to the development and maintenance of consciousness. They discuss various perspectives on the nature of consciousness, including functionalist, relationalist, and phenomenological accounts, and argue that a deeper understanding of consciousness can enhance our understanding of inference.

In the second chapter, "The Role of Consciousness in Epistemology," the authors examine the role of consciousness in epistemological inquiry. They argue that consciousness plays a crucial role in determining the reliability of our beliefs and the justification of our inferences. They explore the concept of epistemic value and discuss how consciousness can contribute to the evaluation of evidence and the formation of justified beliefs.

In the third chapter, "Consciousness and Mental Capacity," the authors explore the relationship between consciousness and mental capacity. They discuss how consciousness can be understood as a necessary condition for certain mental capacities, such as perception and problem-solving, and how these capacities can be explained in terms of underlying neural processes. They also consider the implications of this relationship for the understanding of mental disorders and cognitive impairments.

In the fourth chapter, "Consciousness and Inference in the Philosophy of Mind," the authors examine the significance of consciousness for the philosophy of mind. They argue that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the mental state that cannot be reduced to or explained in terms of lower-level mental processes. They discuss various theories of consciousness, including functionalist, embodied, and phenomenological accounts, and explore how these theories can be integrated with theories of inference to provide a more comprehensive understanding of mental phenomena.

In the fifth chapter, "Consciousness and Inference in Practice," the authors discuss the practical implications of the insights gained from the previous chapters. They explore how consciousness can be cultivated and enhanced through mindfulness practices, meditation, and cognitive training. They also discuss how these practices can be applied to improve our inferential abilities and decision-making processes.

In the conclusion, the authors summarize the key points discussed in the book and highlight the importance of further research and exploration in this area. They call for a more interdisciplinary approach that brings together experts from different fields to better understand the significance of consciousness for inference and its broader implications for our understanding of the mind and the world.
Inference has long been a central concern in epistemology, as an essential means by which we extend our knowledge and test our beliefs. Inference is also a key notion in influential psychological accounts of mental capacities, ranging from problem-solving to perception. Consciousness, on the other hand, has arguably been the defining interest of philosophy of mind over recent decades. Comparatively little attention, however, has been devoted to the significance of consciousness for the proper understanding of the nature and role of inference. It is commonly suggested that inference may be either conscious or unconscious. Yet how unified are these various supposed instances of inference? Does either enjoy explanatory priority in relation to the other? In what way, or ways, can an inference be conscious, or fail to be conscious, and how does this matter? This book brings together original essays from established scholars and emerging theorists that showcase how several current debates in epistemology, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of mind can benefit from more reflections on these and related questions about the significance of consciousness for inference.

In the first chapter, "Consciousness and Inference," the authors explore the relationship between consciousness and inference, examining how conscious experiences can shape our inferential processes and how inference can contribute to the development and maintenance of consciousness. They discuss various perspectives on the nature of consciousness, including functionalist, relationalist, and phenomenological accounts, and argue that a deeper understanding of consciousness can enhance our understanding of inference.

In the second chapter, "The Role of Consciousness in Epistemology," the authors examine the role of consciousness in epistemological inquiry. They argue that consciousness plays a crucial role in determining the reliability of our beliefs and the justification of our inferences. They explore the concept of epistemic value and discuss how consciousness can contribute to the evaluation of evidence and the formation of justified beliefs.

In the third chapter, "Consciousness and Mental Capacity," the authors explore the relationship between consciousness and mental capacity. They discuss how consciousness can be understood as a necessary condition for certain mental capacities, such as perception and problem-solving, and how these capacities can be explained in terms of underlying neural processes. They also consider the implications of this relationship for the understanding of mental disorders and cognitive impairments.

In the fourth chapter, "Consciousness and Inference in the Philosophy of Mind," the authors examine the significance of consciousness for the philosophy of mind. They argue that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the mental state that cannot be reduced to or explained in terms of lower-level mental processes. They discuss various theories of consciousness, including functionalist, embodied, and phenomenological accounts, and explore how these theories can be integrated with theories of inference to provide a more comprehensive understanding of mental phenomena.

In the fifth chapter, "Consciousness and Inference in Practice," the authors discuss the practical implications of the insights gained from the previous chapters. They explore how consciousness can be cultivated and enhanced through mindfulness practices, meditation, and cognitive training. They also discuss how these practices can be applied to improve our inferential abilities and decision-making processes.

In the conclusion, the authors summarize the key points discussed in the book and highlight the importance of further research and exploration in this area. They call for a more interdisciplinary approach that brings together experts from different fields to better understand the significance of consciousness for inference and its broader implications for our understanding of the mind and the world.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032337340