Main.PhenomenalConceptsChalmers History
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* C&¬E is conceivable, but C still explains E. (E is our epistemic situation.)
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* So we might try to deny the third assumption.
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* So we might try to deny the third assumption. i.e. taking option #4 discussed by Chalmers - "Reject the link between conceivability and explanation"
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* On the phenomenal concept approach, zombies are conceivable but not really metaphysically possible. The approach is supposed to explain why this is the case.
* So we might try to deny the third assumption.
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concept of X vs. X itself
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* Background: [[concepts of consciousness]], [[the knowledge argument about consciousness]]
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* Background: [[concepts of consciousness]], [[neural correlates of consciousness]], [[the knowledge argument about consciousness]]
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** If P&¬C is not conceivable, then zombies satisfy C.
** Zombies do not share our epistemic situation.
** If zombies satisfy C but do not share our epistemic situation, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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* If P&¬C is not conceivable, then zombies satisfy C.
* Zombies do not share our epistemic situation.
* If zombies satisfy C but do not share our epistemic situation, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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!!!Elaboration
# If P&¬C is conceivable, then C is not physically explicable.
** If P&¬C is conceivable, then there is an explanatory gap between P and C.
** If there is an explanatory gap between P and C, then P cannot explain C.
# If P&¬C is not conceivable, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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!!!Argument for premise #1
* If P&¬C is conceivable, then there is an explanatory gap between P and C.
* If there is an explanatory gap between P and C, then P cannot explain C.
Comments
* Seems reasonable, especially if the relevant theory of phenomenal concepts are functional / computational.
* The functional supervenes on the physical.
!!!Argument for premise #2
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# Therefore, either C is not physically explicable, or C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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** If P&~C is not conceivable, then zombies satisfy C.
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** If P&¬C is not conceivable, then zombies satisfy C.
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## If P&~C is not conceivable, then zombies satisfy C.
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** If P&~C is not conceivable, then zombies satisfy C.
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## If P&~C is not conceivable, then zombies satisfy C.
** Zombies do not share our epistemic situation.
** If zombies satisfy C but do not share our epistemic situation, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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# If P&¬C is conceivable, then C is not physically explicable.
** If P&¬C is conceivable, then there is an explanatory gap between P and C.
** If there is an explanatory gap between P and C, then P cannot explain C.
# If P&¬C is not conceivable, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
# Therefore, either C is not physically explicable, or C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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# If P&~C is conceivable, then C is not physically explicable.
# If P&~C is not conceivable, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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# If P&¬C is conceivable, then C is not physically explicable.
# If P&¬C is not conceivable, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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The master argument
# If P&~C is conceivable, then C is not physically explicable.
# If P&~C is not conceivable, then C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
# Therefore, either C is not physically explicable, or C cannot explain our epistemic situation.
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Some candidates for C (there are others):
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Chalmers: Strategy is bound to fail.
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!!Chalmers: Strategy is bound to fail.
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@@@For any candidate thesis C about psychological features of human beings, then either\\
(I) C is not physically explicable\\
or\\
(II) C does not explain our epistemic situation with regard to consciousness.@@@
Candidates for C:
# Phenomenal concepts are recognitional concepts.
# Phenomenal concepts and physical concepts have different conceptual roles.
# Phenomenal concepts are indexical.
# Phenomenal concepts are quotational.
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** Gap = P→Q is not ''a priori''.
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** Gap = P→Q is not ''a priori''. (knowledge argument, inverted spectrum)
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# Deflate anti-physicalist conclusions.
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# Deflate anti-physicalist conclusions. "conceptual dualism and ontological monism"
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* What is the gap? Suppose P = conjunction of all physical truths. Q = truth about qualia.
** Gap = P→Q is not ''a priori''.
** Compare: (P→water contains hydrogen) is ''a priori''.
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* We might discover that phenomenal state P is correlated with physical brain state B.
* But this does not explain why what it is like to be in state B is the same as what it is like to be in state P. Why can't it be like being in some other phenomenal state Q? Or, why can't there be a [[http://consc.net/zombies.html|zombie]] with state B?
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* We might discover that phenomenal state Q is correlated with physical brain state B.
* But this does not explain why what it is like to be in state B is the same as what it is like to be in state Q. Why can't it be like being in some other phenomenal state R? Or, why can't there be a [[http://consc.net/zombies.html|zombie]] with state B?
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* But this does not explain why what it is like to be in state B is the same as what it is like to be in state P. Why can't it be like being in some other phenomenal state Q? Or, why can't there be a zombie with state B?
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* But this does not explain why what it is like to be in state B is the same as what it is like to be in state P. Why can't it be like being in some other phenomenal state Q? Or, why can't there be a [[http://consc.net/zombies.html|zombie]] with state B?
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* But this does not explain why what it is like to be in state B is the same as what it is like to be in state P. Why can't it be like being in some other phenomenal state Q?
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* But this does not explain why what it is like to be in state B is the same as what it is like to be in state P. Why can't it be like being in some other phenomenal state Q? Or, why can't there be a zombie with state B?
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Attractive features
# Acknowledge intuitive puzzle.
# Deflate anti-physicalist conclusions.
Chalmers: Strategy is bound to fail.
@@@I think that the strategy cannot succeed. On close examination, we can see that no account of phenomenal concepts is both powerful enough to explain our epistemic situation with regard to consciousness, and tame enough to be explained in physical terms.@@@
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!!The phenomenal concept strategy
@@@Proponents of this strategy argue that phenomenal concepts — our concepts of conscious states — have a certain special nature. Proponents suggest that given this special nature, it is predictable that we will find an explanatory gap between physical processes, conceived under physical concepts, and conscious states, conceived under phenomenal concepts. At the same time, they argue that our possession of concepts with this special nature can itself be explained in physical terms.@@@
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!!Explanatory gap
* We might discover that phenomenal state P is correlated with physical brain state B.
* But this does not explain why what it is like to be in state B is the same as what it is like to be in state P. Why can't it be like being in some other phenomenal state Q?
* Some possible responses:
# There is no explanatory gap. We can already close the gap.
# There is no explanatory gap, but we are not smart enough to understand why.
# There is an explanatory gap now, but more scientific research will fill the gap.
# There is an explanatory gap now, but a new kind of science is needed to fill the gap.
# There is an explanatory gap, but it is only due to a gap between our phenomenal and physical concepts. There are no ontological consequences.
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* Background: [[Concepts of consciousness]], [[the knowledge argument about consciousness]]
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* Background: [[concepts of consciousness]], [[the knowledge argument about consciousness]]
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* Background: ConceptsOfConsciousness
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* Background: [[Concepts of consciousness]], [[the knowledge argument about consciousness]]
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* Background: ConceptsOfConsciousness
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!Chalmers on phenomenal concepts and the explanatory gap
!!Readings
* David Chalmers. (forthcoming) [[http://consc.net/papers/pceg.html|Phenomenal Concepts and the Explanatory Gap]].
[[Category.Mind]]