A Dialogue on Consciousness

Torin Alter and Robert J. Howell

In recent years, the problem of consciousness has developed into one of the most important and hotly contested areas in the philosophy of mind. Concise, up-to-date, and engaging, A Dialogue on Consciousness features two main characters, Tollens and Ponens--unemployed graduate students who secretly live in a university library--who bring this debate alive. Tollens and Ponens examine the most significant theories and arguments in the field, quoting key passages from both classic and contemporary texts. Their discussion encompasses an expansive and diverse range of ideas, from those that originated in the Enlightenment up to today's most current perspectives.

A Dialogue on Consciousness

Torin Alter and Robert J. Howell

Description

In recent years, the problem of consciousness has developed into one of the most important and hotly contested areas in the philosophy of mind. Many philosophers regard consciousness as an entirely physical phenomenon, yet it seems to elude scientific explanation. On the other hand, viewing consciousness as a nonphysical phenomenon brings up even larger issues. If consciousness is not physical, how can it be explained?
Concise, up-to-date, and engaging, A Dialogue on Consciousness explores these issues in depth. It features two main characters, Tollens and Ponens--unemployed graduate students who secretly live in a university library--who bring the debate alive. Tollens and Ponens examine the most significant theories and arguments in the field, quoting key passages from both classic and contemporary texts. Their discussion encompasses an expansive and diverse range of ideas, from those that originated in the Enlightenment up to today's most current perspectives. The dialogue concludes with a consideration of the pros and cons of modern physicalist views and nonphysicalist alternatives. An extensive annotated list of suggested readings directs readers to the most relevant and helpful primary sources.
An accessible and entertaining introduction to this complex issue, A Dialogue on Consciousness ideal for courses in philosophy of mind and consciousness. It also serves as an excellent supplement to introductory philosophy courses.

A Dialogue on Consciousness

Torin Alter and Robert J. Howell

Preface
Acknowledgments
Monday Night
Late Night in the Library
The Subjectivity of Experience
The Soul and the Mind
Descartes' Conceivability Argument
Lois Lane, Clark Kent, and Superman
Arnauld's Objection to Descartes' Argument
Hume's Elusive Self
Souls and the Problem of Mental-Physical Causation
Tuesday Night
Computers and Cognition
Consciousness versus Cognition
Ignoring Subjectivity
What Is It Like to Be a Bat?
The Need for a New Framework
Mary and the Knowledge Argument against Physicalism
Spectrum Inversion
Zombies and the Conceivability Argument against Physicalism
Wednesday Night
The Structure of the Anti-Physicalist Arguments: The Epistemic Step and the Metaphysical Step
Questioning the Epistemic Step
Afterimages and Mary's Shortcuts to Phenomenal Knowledge
The Importance of Deduction
Psycho-Physical Laws
Hooking Up to the Physical
The Objectivity Condition on the Physical
Deduction and Translation
The Ability Hypothesis
The Connection between Abilities and Information
Representationalism and the Transparency of Experience
Thursday Night
Questioning the Metaphysical Step
Superheroes and the Many Disguises of Physical Facts
Disguise Depends on Ignorance
The Cognitive Isolation of Phenomenal Concepts
Martian Mary and the Phenomenal Concept Strategy
Do Phenomenal Concepts Require Experience?
The Dilemma for the Phenomenal Concept Strategy
Descartes Returns, with Zombies
Friday Night
Clarifying Property Dualism
Why Souls Are No Help
The Causal Inefficacy of Nonphysical Qualia
Assessing the Costs of Epiphenomenalism
The Paradox of Phenomenal Judgment
The Attractions of Monism
Saturday
Panpsychism
Phenomenal Properties as the Ground of Physical Dispositions
Panprotopsychism
The Combination Problem
The Problem of Mental-Physical Causation Redux
The Significance of Ignorance
Defining the Physical
Subjective Physicalism
Necessitation without Deduction
The Sun Rises
Reading Suggestions
Sources of Quotations
Index

A Dialogue on Consciousness

Torin Alter and Robert J. Howell

Reviews and Awards

"Alter and Howell's dialogue starts by making the basic puzzles of consciousness vivid and accessible. By the end it has led readers through a grand tour of many of the most central issues in the area, bringing them close to the leading edge of current thought. Alter and Howell have both made significant contributions to this area themselves, so their discussion is philosophically rich. At the same time, it is a pleasure to read."--David Chalmers, Director, Centre for Consciousness, Australian National University, and author of The Conscious Mind

"A Dialogue on Consciousness is an elegant discussion of the problem of consciousness that would be appropriate for courses in the philosophy of mind and for generic introductions to philosophy. Once I began reading, I was hooked."--John Heil, Washington University in St Louis

"I plan to use A Dialogue on Consciousness in my philosophy of mind course. It will engage the students and provide an excellent overview of the main issues, the main positions on them, and the main lines of argument."--Alfred Mele, William H. and Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy, Florida State University