What is Consciousness?: A Debate

Consciousness is a philosophically and scientifically puzzling topic that has been approached by philosophers assuming a standard physicalist framework. This book presents a debate between two philosophers, Amy Kind and Daniel Stoljar, who reject this framework but differ in their conclusions. Kind defends dualism 2.0, a modern version of dualism that is decoupled from religious or non-scientific connotations, while Stoljar defends non-standard physicalism, a kind of physicalism that is different from both the standard version and dualism 2.0. The book provides a cutting-edge assessment of the philosophy of consciousness and offers a glimpse at what the future study of this area might bring.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

For many years, philosophers have approached the question of consciousness within a standard physicalist framework, seeking to explain it through contemporary physics, biology, neuroscience, and cognitive science. However, this approach has faced significant challenges, leading to a debate between two philosophers who share a common rejection of standard physicalism but differ in their interpretation of the lessons to be drawn from this.

Amy Kind presents dualism 2.0, a modern version of dualism that is decoupled from any religious or non-scientific connotations. Dualism posits that the world consists of two fundamentally different kinds of things: those that are physical and those that are mental. Kind argues that dualism 2.0 provides a more comprehensive and accurate account of consciousness than previous versions, while also avoiding the metaphysical baggage associated with traditional dualism.

On the other hand, Daniel Stoljar defends non-standard physicalism, a kind of physicalism that differs from both the standard version and dualism 2.0. Non-standard physicalism posits that consciousness is a fundamental property of the physical world, but that it cannot be fully explained by contemporary physics or biology. Stoljar argues that non-standard physicalism offers a more promising avenue for understanding consciousness, while also challenging the assumptions and limitations of standard physicalism.

The book "Consciousness: A Philosophical Debate" presents a cutting-edge assessment of the philosophy of consciousness and provides a glimpse at what the future study of this area might bring. It outlines the different things people mean by consciousness and provides an account of what consciousness is. It reviews the key arguments for thinking that consciousness is incompatible with physicalism, including the hard problem of consciousness and the explanatory gap. The book explores and provides a defense of contrasting responses to those arguments, with a special focus on responses that reject the standard physicalist framework. It also provides an account of the basic aims of the science of consciousness and is written in a lively and accessibly style.

In conclusion, "Consciousness: A Philosophical Debate" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the philosophy of consciousness. It presents a comprehensive and nuanced account of the debate between standard physicalism and dualism 2.0, and provides a thoughtful exploration of the future prospects for understanding consciousness. Whether you are a philosopher, scientist, or simply someone who is curious about the nature of consciousness, this book offers insights and perspectives that are worth exploring.

Weight: 406g
Dimension: 144 x 223 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032470627