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Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Cognition & cognitive psychology
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Zombies and Consciousness (Paperback, New ed)
Loot Price: R1,675
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Zombies and Consciousness (Paperback, New ed)
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By definition zombies would be physically and behaviourally just
like us, but not conscious. This currently very influential idea is
a threat to all forms of physicalism, and has led some philosophers
to give up physicalism and become dualists. It has also beguiled
many physicalists, who feel forced to defend increasingly
convoluted explanations of why the conceivability of zombies is
compatible with their impossibility. Robert Kirk argues that the
zombie idea depends on an incoherent view of the nature of
phenomenal consciousness.
His book has two main aims. One is to demolish the zombie idea
once and for all. There are plenty of objections to it in the
literature, but they lack intuitive appeal. He offers a striking
new argument which reveals fundamental confusions in the implied
conception of consciousness. His other main contribution is to
develop a fresh and original approach to the true nature of
phenomenal consciousness. Kirk argues that a necessary condition is
a "basic package" of capacities. An important component of his
argument is that the necessary cognitive capacities are not as
sophisticated as is often assumed. By focusing on humbler creatures
than ourselves he avoids some of the distracting complications of
our sophisticated forms of cognition.
The basic package does not seem to be sufficient for phenomenal
consciousness. What is also needed is "direct activity"--a special
feature of the way the events which constitute incoming perceptual
information affect the system. This is an integrated process, to be
conceived of holistically, and contrasts sharply with what is often
called the "availability" or "poisedness" of perceptual
information.
This original, penetrating, and highly readable book will be of
interest to all who have a serious concern with the nature of
consciousness: not only professional philosophers and students, but
also many psychologists and neuroscientists.
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