Concepts of Consciousness, Kinds of Consciousness, Meanings of `Consciousness'

Author: Antony M.V.

Source: Philosophical Studies, Volume 109, Number 1, May 2002 , pp. 1-16(16)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The use of expressions like `concepts of consciousness', `kinds of consciousness', and `meanings of `consciousness' ' interchangeably is ubiquitous within the consciousness literature. It is argued that this practice can be made sense of in only two ways. The first involves interpreting `concepts of consciousness' and `kinds of consciousness' metalinguistically to mean, roughly, concepts expressed by `consciousness' and kinds expressed by `consciousness'; and the second involves certain literal, though semantically deviant, interpretations of those expressions. The trouble is that researchers frequently use the above expressions interchangeably without satisfying either way of doing so coherently. The result is considerable error and confusion, which is demonstrated in the works of philosophers currently writing on consciousness.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Philosophy, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel, E-mail: antony@research.haifa.ac.il

Publication date: 2002-05-01