| How to separate conceptual issues from empirical ones in the study of consciousness. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18166381 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Modern consciousness studies are in a healthy state, with many progressive empirical programmes in cognitive science, neuroscience, and related sciences, using relatively conventional third-person research methods. However not all the problems of consciousness can be resolved in this way. These problems may be grouped into problems that require empirical advance, those that require theoretical advance, and those that require a re-examination of some of our pre-theoretical assumptions. I give examples of these, and focus on two problems--what consciousness is, and what consciousness does--that requires all three. In this, careful attention to conscious phenomenology and finding an appropriate way to relate first-person evidence to third-person evidence appears to be central to progress. But we may also need to re-examine what we take to be "natural facts" about the world, and how we can know them. The same appears to be true for a trans-cultural understanding of consciousness that combines classical Indian phenomenological methods with the third-person methods of Western science. |
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Authors:
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Max Velmans |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Progress in brain research Volume: 168 ISSN: 0079-6123 ISO Abbreviation: Prog. Brain Res. Publication Date: 2008 |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-01-01 Completed Date: 2008-06-20 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0376441 Medline TA: Prog Brain Res Country: Netherlands |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1-9 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, UK. m.velmans@gold.ac.uk |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Cognitive Science* Concept Formation / physiology* Consciousness / physiology* Empirical Research Humans |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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