PSYA01H3 Lecture Notes - Qualia, Intentionality, Epiphenomenon
Document Summary
Consciousness can refer to: the state of being awake and alert patients in a coma are not conscious. Are animal entities self-aware of being: when used as an adjective conscious thoughts or processes are typical linked to goals and the notion of behavioural control: we can sometimes control our actions/thoughts. This is the closest sciences get to discussing souls. Unity: consciousness is very hard to divide conscious of one thing at a time. Example: hard to focus on driving while on phone. Selectivity: only certain aspects of stimuli are brought into consciousness. Transience: it is difficult to keep consciousness from moving. Mind/body problem: how much of the mind s problems is linked to a body s problems. Hans sellier stress (example: prolonged parasympathetic system that leads to sleeplessness, caused by thoughts. The problem of other minds and the notion of the theory of the mind. We have to depend on what they say.
