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Philosophy and Science of Consciousness
Owen Flanagan
James B. Duke University Professor
Duke University
Durham, NC 27707
USA
LECTURE ONE
THE NATURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Consciousness is subjective. There are conscious
perceptions, thoughts, moods, and emotions.
Consciousness is phenomenal, comprised of
qualia. Only living things are conscious (so far);
but not all living things are conscious (plants are
not). In this lecture we explore the
phenomenology of consciousness, how it seems
to the creatures who are conscious.
What Physicalism about Consciousness Is
Df. Physicalism (“Naturalism”)
Consciousness is an entirely psychobiological process
All mental events/states (conscious & unconscious) are bodily events/states. Each and every mental state on earth is a bodily state (maybe “extended”) <Token Physicalism>
Q.: Why believe in physicalism?
A: Physicalism is an inference to the best explanation given that we are animals (plus some other powerful reasons that have to do with causation, consistent relations among the sciences and between science and philosophy)
SUBJECTIVE REALISM (Biological Realism)
REGULATIVE ASSUMPTIONS:
1. CONSCIOUSNESS IS TWO-SIDED
Phenomenal Structure
Hidden Physical Structure
2. PHYSICALISM is true
LECTURE TWO
THE FUNCTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Consciousness is a universal phenotypic trait of animals.
Normally, universal traits are adaptations, that is, they
promoted fitness (differential reproductive success) at the
time they evolved. In this lecture, we distinguish between
robotic cognition/information processing and conscious
thought and discuss what added value if any comes from
processing information consciously as opposed to non-
consciously.
James on FunctionIf consciousness is effective, it must because it is
capable of “increasing the efficiency of the brain by
loading its dice…Loading its dice would mean bringing a
more or less constant pressure to bear in favor of those
of its performances which make for the permanent
interests of the brain’s owner; it would mean a constant
inhibition of the tendencies to stray aside…Every
actually existing consciousness seems to itself at any
rate to be a fighter for ends, of which many, but for its
presence, would not be ends at all.”
FUNCTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS
The consciousness of brutes would appear to be related to the mechanism of their body simply as a collateral product of its working, and to be as completely without any power of modifying that working as the steam-whistle which accompanies the work of a locomotive engine is without influence upon its machinery. Their volition, if they have any, is an emotion indicative of physical changes, not a cause of such changes. T.H. Huxley
CONSCIOUSNESS DID NOT HAVE TO EVOLVE
1.BECAUSE WE DIDN’T NEED TO EVOLVE. THE WORLD IS CONCIVABLE WITHOUT US.2.IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES COULD HAVE WORKED TO BUILD CREATURES AS EFFECIENT AND INTELLIGENT AS WE ARE BUT WITHOUT CONSCIOUSNESS
Nick Humphreypsychologist
• Since [phenomenal] experience, as we know it, is
a feature of life on earth, we take it for granted
that – like every other specialized feature of living
organisms – it has evolved because it confers
selective advantage. In one way or another, it
must be helping the organism to survive and
reproduce.”
CONSCIOUSNESS INESSENTIALISM
• THE VIEW THAT FOR ANY INTELLIGENT ACTIVITY I PERFORMED IN ANY COGNITIVE DOMAIN D, EVEN IF WE DO I CONSCIOUSLY, I CAN IN PRINCIPLE BE DONE NONCONCIOUSLY.
EPIPHENOMENALIST’S SUSPICION
Although Consciousness exists and enters into the characterization of some of our actions, it plays a relatively inconsequential role in mental life overall.
Functions, Goals, Ends
Aristotle says telos/goal or end is
FLOURISHING/HAPPINESS (eudaimonia)
REASON AND VIRTUE are “instruments” – uniquely capable of serving the function ofAchieving eudaimonia.
Point to Keep in Mind
• Many things we do consciously were not selected for biologically
Walking versus Dancing
Reading Nature versus Reading Books
Recognizing Patterns in Nature V. Doing Philosophy or Quantum Physics
3. Mental Causation/Free Will
• Readiness Potential (500ms) ----- Consciousness
Awareness of Urge to Flex (200ms) - flexion
And, Real Situation
Conscious Awareness of Instructions ---Conscious self-instructions to comply (minutes later) ----- readiness potential (500 ms)--- Conscious awareness of urge to flex (200ms) ------ Flexion
Overall Idea/Conjecture:
1. Awake Consciousness has a biological function
2. Sleeping has a biological function
3. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnesshas no biological function.
4. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnessis what you get for free from a system designed to be conscious by the light of day, which doesnot turn off completely at night & that is activated by the work that sleep does/is for.
DEFINITION OF AN ADAPTATION
T is an Adaptation (historical) just in case (1.) when T
evolved it served a Darwinian Function/Purpose = increased
reproduce success of organisms that possessed T relative to
organisms that lack T & (2.) the increase in fitness is caused
by T.
T is an Adaptation (Modern History) just in case T is an
Adaptation (historical) & NOW serves a Darwinian
Function/Purpose = increases reproduce success of organisms
that possess T relative to organisms that lack T & the
increase in fitness is caused by T
What is Function of Consciousness?
Different Senses of Function:Fitness Enhancing v. Flourishing Enhancing
1. Proper Biological Function ( e.g., sexual desire, whichenhances inclusive genetic fitness) v. Psychological Function (e.g., mindfulness, which enhances well-being, eudaimonia)
2. Adaptation (animal tracking system) v. Adaptive (e.g., literacy)
3. Selection For (large brain for social intelligence) v. Selection Of (capacity to do quantum physics, philosophy)
BEWARE:
•Pan-adaptationism•Ultra-Darwinian Fundamentalism•Glib Inferences from universality of phenotypic trait to biological function of that trait.
Overall Idea/Conjecture:
1. Awake Consciousness has a biological function
2. Sleeping has a biological function
3. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnesshas no biological function.
4. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnessis what you get for free from a system designed to be conscious by the light of day, which doesnot turn off completely at night & that is activated by the work that sleep does/is for.
PROBLEM TWO
CAN I BE IMMORAL IN DREAMS?
“You commanded me not to commit fornication…But when I
dream thoughts of fornication not only give me pleasure but
are very much like acquiescence to the act…Yet the
difference between sleeping and being awake is so great
that I return to a clear conscience when I wake and realize
that…I am not responsible for the act, although I am sorry
that by some means or other it happened to me.”
(Augustine)
PROBLEM THREE
•Are Dreams Experiences thatTake Place During Sleep? (Malcolm, Dennett)
•Are Dream-Reports reports of (the real) Dreams? (cf. Freud on dream-censorship)
PROBLEM FOUR
Is Dreaming/Dream Consciousness
1. Biological Adaptation? -- e.g. Eyesor
2. Exaptation? -- e.g. Wings
3. Spandrel? Free Rider? --- e.g. Heartbeats
or
Problem Five
If dreaming is a spandrel do dreamsmean anything or are dreams simplyunprincipled noise?
If dreaming is a spandrel can dreams be utilized in the project of self-knowledge?
If dreaming is a free rider do dreams, likeheart sounds, reveal something interesting
about the dreamer?
Functionalist Theories
1. NREM dreaming is for replenishing male & female sex hormones, cortisol, etc.
2. REM dreaming is for TRASH & SAVE/MEMORY CONSOLIDATION
3. REM dreaming is for building the brain to execute primary consciousness (perception, emotions) (3-5x in utero) [p.c. is basic, nec, required for s.c.]
4. REM dreaming is for threat-scenario simulation
REPLY: Replace ‘dream’ with ‘sleep’ in first 3; simply reject 4
Final Point: Lack of biological function for dreams,does not entail that dreams do not or cannothave discovered (heartbeat) or invented functions (reading on top of animal tracking system).
Best hope: Activation of my thoughts, my memoriesby what sleep is doing, trying to accomplish, and aided by powerful narrative/memory capacities might mean that dreams are accidentally self-expressive and thus are one (not high value) data source to be utilized in the project of self knowledge.