Tim Bayne at Noema Magazine:
It’s not just a scientific theory of consciousness that’s controversial; attempts to define “consciousness” are too. Language might not be necessary for consciousness, but you can’t study consciousness without using words. Some theorists define “consciousness” as “awareness,” “sentience” or “experience,” but that merely shifts the point of confusion; those terms are as much in need of clarification as “consciousness” is.
Another approach to defining “consciousness” is to appeal to everyday perceptions and sensations. Consider what it’s like to see the purple of a jacaranda in full bloom, taste the creaminess of a curry or remember a childhood experience. This approach to defining “consciousness” is perhaps the best that we can do, but it has its limitations. How far beyond the familiar forms of mental phenomena should we extend the term “consciousness”?
more here.
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