24 Questions
How is hearing something related to being conscious of something?
Hearing something is another way of being conscious of something.
What is the difference between the creature use of the word 'conscious' and the transitive use of the word?
The creature use of 'conscious' is an adjective applied to a creature, while the transitive use refers to a relation between a creature and the thing it is conscious of.
What is the role of thinking in relation to consciousness?
Thinking about something is another way of being conscious of it, but it may not necessarily imply a metaphysical relation to the thing thought about.
What is state consciousness, and how is it related to the Freudian unconscious?
State consciousness refers to the adjective applied to a mental state of a creature, and is related to the Freudian unconscious which posits that many behaviors are due to unconscious beliefs and desires.
What is the significance of the difference between conscious and unconscious mental states?
The difference is important in understanding phenomena such as subliminal perception.
What is the relationship between qualia and consciousness?
Arguably, another way of being conscious of something is by thinking about it, which relates to the concept of qualia.
How does the higher order thought theory relate to consciousness?
The higher order thought theory suggests that thinking about something is a way of being conscious of it, which is related to the concept of state consciousness.
What is the role of phenomenal consciousness in relation to state consciousness?
Phenomenal consciousness refers to the subjective, qualitative aspects of conscious experience, which is related to state consciousness in understanding the nature of mental states.
What is the significance of subjects being able to guess correctly when forced to guess about what they saw, despite claiming not to have seen it?
It suggests that the subjects have unconscious perceptual states.
What is the primary distinction between conscious and unconscious perceptual states?
Conscious perceptual states can be reported by the subject, while unconscious perceptual states cannot.
What is the central idea of phenomenal consciousness?
It encompasses the idea of the phenomenal character of experiences, qualia, and what it is like to be certain beings or states.
What is the relationship between phenomenal consciousness and creature consciousness?
Phenomenal consciousness can be seen as a technical way of talking about creature consciousness, or vice versa.
What is the significance of the 'what it is like' phrase in the context of philosophical debates about consciousness?
It is connected to the idea of phenomenal consciousness and is often used to explore the subjective nature of experience.
How does the concept of qualia relate to phenomenal consciousness?
Qualia refers to the subjective, qualitative aspects of experience, which is a key component of phenomenal consciousness.
What is the relationship between state consciousness and phenomenal consciousness?
Phenomenal consciousness can be seen as a technical way of talking about state consciousness, or vice versa.
What is the main idea behind the Higher Order Thought (HOT) theory of consciousness?
The HOT theory posits that consciousness arises from higher-order thoughts about one's own mental states.
What is the primary objective of investigating the various uses of the word 'conscious' and related words?
To explain the relations between different phenomena of consciousness and to develop a satisfying theory of consciousness
What is the key distinction between a conscious creature and an unconscious creature in terms of creature consciousness?
A conscious creature is awake and responsive to stimuli, whereas an unconscious creature is neither awake nor responsive
In the transitive sense of the word 'conscious', what is the relationship between the person and the thing they are conscious of?
The person is aware of the thing, and becomes conscious of it through perception or experience
What is the term for the subjective, qualitative experience of sensations, such as redness or sweetness?
Qualia
According to the Higher Order Thought (HOT) theory, what is necessary for a mental state to be conscious?
A higher-order thought about the mental state, which allows the person to be aware of their own mental state
What is the term for the state of being conscious, as opposed to the state of being unconscious or asleep?
State consciousness
What is the term for the 'what-it-is-like' aspect of conscious experience, which is often considered a fundamental aspect of phenomenal consciousness?
Qualia
How many distinct phenomena or senses of the word 'conscious' are identified?
Four
Study Notes
Consciousness and Qualia
- Hearing and thinking are two ways of being conscious of something.
Uses of the Word "Conscious"
- There are four main uses of the word "conscious" that have attracted the interest of contemporary philosophers of mind.
- These uses label four distinct phenomena or kinds of consciousness that a satisfying theory of consciousness should seek to explain.
Creature Consciousness
- This use of the word "conscious" describes an entire organism as being conscious.
- Near synonyms are "awake" and "aware".
- A conscious creature is awake and responsive to stimuli, whereas an unconscious creature is neither awake nor responsive.
Transitive Consciousness
- The transitive sense of the word "conscious" is used to refer to a relation between a creature and the thing that the creature is conscious of or aware of.
- Thinking about something is not really a relation to a thing thought about in the metaphysical sense.
- In thinking about something, one need not really be related to an actual thing.
State Consciousness
- The state use of the word "conscious" is adjectival, applying only to a state of a creature, in particular, a mental state of a creature.
- This concept is related to the Freudian unconscious, where beliefs or desires can be conscious or unconscious.
- The difference between conscious mental states and unconscious mental states is important in understanding phenomena like subliminal perception.
Phenomenal Consciousness
- Phenomenal consciousness is a technical notion related to debates in philosophy.
- It encompasses ideas such as the phenomenal character of experiences, qualia, and what it is like to be certain beings or in certain states.
- The phrase "phenomenal consciousness" may be a technical way of talking about creature consciousness or state consciousness.
This quiz explores the concept of consciousness, its relation to awareness, and the different ways of being conscious of something.
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