Raw feeling : a philosophical account of the essence of consciousness

Consciousness is a perennial source of mystification in the philosophy of mind - how can processes in the brain amount to conscious experiences? Robert Kirk uses the notion of "raw feeling" to bridge the intelligibility gap between our knowledge of ourselves as physical organisms and our knowledge of ourselves as subjects of experience. He argues that there is no need for recourse to dualism or private mental objects. The task is to understand how the truth about raw feeling could be "strictly implied" by narrowly physical truths. Kirk's explanation turns on an account of what it is to be a subject of conscious perceptual experience. He offers analyses of the problems of cnsciousness, and suggests novel solutions which, unlike their rivals, can be accepted without gritting one's teeth. His sustained defence of non-reductive physicalism shows that the reader need not abandon hope of finding a solution to the mind-body problem. Robert Kirk is the author of "Translation Determined". Consciousness Is A Perennial Source Of Mystification In The Philosophy Of Mind: How Could Processes In The Brain Amount To Conscious Experiences? Robert Kirk Uses The Notion Of 'raw Feeling' To Bridge The Intelligibility Gap Between Our Knowledge Of Ourselves As Physical Organisms And Our Knowledge Of Ourselves As Subjects Of Experience; He Argues That There Is No Need For Recourse To Dualism Or Private Mental Objects. The Task Is To Understand How The Truth About Raw Feeling Could Be Strictly Implied By Narrowly Physical Truths. Kirk's Explanation Turns On An Account Of What It Is To Be A Subject Of Conscious Perceptual Experience. He Offers Penetrating Analyses Of The Philosophical Problems Of Consciousness And Suggests Novel Solutions Which, Unlike Their Rivals, Can Be Accepted Without Gritting One's Teeth. 1. Raw Feeling And The Intelligibility Gap -- 2. Is The Notion Sound? -- 3. Strict Implication And The Swiss Cheese Principle -- 4. Perceptual Information -- 5. Conscious Subjects -- 6. The Character Of Raw Feeling -- 7. The Gap Has Been Bridged. Robert Kirk. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Consciousness is a perennial source of mystification in the philosophy of mind - how can processes in the brain amount to conscious experiences? Robert Kirk uses the notion of "raw feeling" to bridge the intelligibility gap between our knowledge of ourselves as physical organisms and our knowledge of ourselves as subjects of experience. He argues that there is no need for recourse to dualism or private mental objects. The task is to understand how the truth about raw feeling could be "strictly implied" by narrowly physical truths. Kirk's explanation turns on an account of what it is to be a subject of conscious perceptual experience. He offers analyses of the problems of consciousness, and suggests novel solutions which, unlike their rivals, can be accepted without gritting one's teeth. His sustained defense of non-reductive physicalism shows that the reader need not abandon hope of finding a solution to the mind-body problem. Robert Kirk is the author of "Translation Determined".

consciousness Is A Perennial Source Of Mystification In The Philosophy Of Mind: How Can Processes In The Brain Amount To Conscious Experiences? Robert Kirk Uses The Notion Of Raw Feeling To Bridge The Intelligibility Gap Between Our Knowledge Of Ourselves As Physical Organisms And Our Knowledge Of Ourselves As Subjects Of Experience; He Argues That There Is No Need For Recourse To Dualism Or Private Mental Objects. The Task Is To Understand How The Truth About Raw Feeling Could Be strictly Implied By Narrowly Physical Truths. Kirk's Explanation Turns On An Account Of What It Is To Be A Subject Of Conscious Perceptual Experience. He Offers Penetrating Analyses Of The Problems Of Consciousness And Suggests Novel Solutions. His Sustained Defense Of Non-reductive Physicalism Shows That We Need Not Abandon Hope Of Finding A Solution To The Mind-body Problem.

The problem of consciousness is central to the perennial philosophical debate on the relation between mind and body; Robert Kirk offers a penetrating analysis of the problem, and suggests a new approach to solving it. He uses the notion of `raw feeling' to bridge the gap between our knowledge of ourselves as physical organisms and our knowledge of ourselves as subjects of experience. Robert Kirk attempts to answer the problem of consciousness that derives from the notorious gap between our knowledge of ourselves as matter and our subjective knowledge of what we experience