Philosophy and Science of Consciousness

Owen Flanagan

James B. Duke University Professor

Duke University

Durham, NC 27707

USA

LECTURE ONE

THE NATURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Consciousness is subjective. There are conscious

perceptions, thoughts, moods, and emotions.

Consciousness is phenomenal, comprised of

qualia. Only living things are conscious (so far);

but not all living things are conscious (plants are

not). In this lecture we explore the

phenomenology of consciousness, how it seems

to the creatures who are conscious.

What Physicalism about Consciousness Is

Df. Physicalism (“Naturalism”)

Consciousness is an entirely psychobiological process

All mental events/states (conscious & unconscious) are bodily events/states. Each and every mental state on earth is a bodily state (maybe “extended”) <Token Physicalism>

Q.: Why believe in physicalism?

A: Physicalism is an inference to the best explanation given that we are animals (plus some other powerful reasons that have to do with causation, consistent relations among the sciences and between science and philosophy)

Subjective Realism

SUBJECTIVE REALISM (Biological Realism)

REGULATIVE ASSUMPTIONS:

1. CONSCIOUSNESS IS TWO-SIDED

Phenomenal Structure

Hidden Physical Structure

2. PHYSICALISM is true

LECTURE TWO

THE FUNCTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Consciousness is a universal phenotypic trait of animals.

Normally, universal traits are adaptations, that is, they

promoted fitness (differential reproductive success) at the

time they evolved. In this lecture, we distinguish between

robotic cognition/information processing and conscious

thought and discuss what added value if any comes from

processing information consciously as opposed to non-

consciously.

So, Today

• What is the function of consciousness?

• Do we overestimate its causal role?

James on FunctionIf consciousness is effective, it must because it is

capable of “increasing the efficiency of the brain by

loading its dice…Loading its dice would mean bringing a

more or less constant pressure to bear in favor of those

of its performances which make for the permanent

interests of the brain’s owner; it would mean a constant

inhibition of the tendencies to stray aside…Every

actually existing consciousness seems to itself at any

rate to be a fighter for ends, of which many, but for its

presence, would not be ends at all.”

FUNCTION OF CONSCIOUSNESS

The consciousness of brutes would appear to be related to the mechanism of their body simply as a collateral product of its working, and to be as completely without any power of modifying that working as the steam-whistle which accompanies the work of a locomotive engine is without influence upon its machinery. Their volition, if they have any, is an emotion indicative of physical changes, not a cause of such changes. T.H. Huxley

S.J. GOULD

Q: REWINDING THE TAPE OF LIFE? WOULD LIFE AND AND MIND BE THE SAME?

CONSCIOUSNESS DID NOT HAVE TO EVOLVE

1.BECAUSE WE DIDN’T NEED TO EVOLVE. THE WORLD IS CONCIVABLE WITHOUT US.2.IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES COULD HAVE WORKED TO BUILD CREATURES AS EFFECIENT AND INTELLIGENT AS WE ARE BUT WITHOUT CONSCIOUSNESS

Nick Humphreypsychologist

• Since [phenomenal] experience, as we know it, is

a feature of life on earth, we take it for granted

that – like every other specialized feature of living

organisms – it has evolved because it confers

selective advantage. In one way or another, it

must be helping the organism to survive and

reproduce.”

CONSCIOUSNESS INESSENTIALISM

• THE VIEW THAT FOR ANY INTELLIGENT ACTIVITY I PERFORMED IN ANY COGNITIVE DOMAIN D, EVEN IF WE DO I CONSCIOUSLY, I CAN IN PRINCIPLE BE DONE NONCONCIOUSLY.

EPIPHENOMENALIST’S SUSPICION

Although Consciousness exists and enters into the characterization of some of our actions, it plays a relatively inconsequential role in mental life overall.

• Fire ------ Pain ---- Withdraw Hand

• Fire ---- Withdraw Hand – (with pain as “afterglow”)

Varieties of Functions

What does C do?What is Consciousness for?

Functions, Goals, Ends

Aristotle says telos/goal or end is

FLOURISHING/HAPPINESS (eudaimonia)

REASON AND VIRTUE are “instruments” – uniquely capable of serving the function ofAchieving eudaimonia.

Some Candidate Functions

• “Loads the dice”• Choice• Speedy Prudence• Rationality• Deliberation

Point to Keep in Mind

• Many things we do consciously were not selected for biologically

Walking versus Dancing

Reading Nature versus Reading Books

Recognizing Patterns in Nature V. Doing Philosophy or Quantum Physics

Blind Sighted•X•X•X•X•x•x•x

3. Mental Causation/Free Will

• Readiness Potential (500ms) ----- Consciousness

Awareness of Urge to Flex (200ms) - flexion

But

• VETO POWER (Seems to be Conscious)

And, Real Situation

Conscious Awareness of Instructions ---Conscious self-instructions to comply (minutes later) ----- readiness potential (500 ms)--- Conscious awareness of urge to flex (200ms) ------ Flexion

CASE 4: Biological Function? The Strange Case of Dreams

Overall Idea/Conjecture:

1. Awake Consciousness has a biological function

2. Sleeping has a biological function

3. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnesshas no biological function.

4. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnessis what you get for free from a system designed to be conscious by the light of day, which doesnot turn off completely at night & that is activated by the work that sleep does/is for.

DEFINITION OF AN ADAPTATION

T is an Adaptation (historical) just in case (1.) when T

evolved it served a Darwinian Function/Purpose = increased

reproduce success of organisms that possessed T relative to

organisms that lack T & (2.) the increase in fitness is caused

by T.

T is an Adaptation (Modern History) just in case T is an

Adaptation (historical) & NOW serves a Darwinian

Function/Purpose = increases reproduce success of organisms

that possess T relative to organisms that lack T & the

increase in fitness is caused by T

What is Function of Consciousness?

Different Senses of Function:Fitness Enhancing v. Flourishing Enhancing

1. Proper Biological Function ( e.g., sexual desire, whichenhances inclusive genetic fitness) v. Psychological Function (e.g., mindfulness, which enhances well-being, eudaimonia)

2. Adaptation (animal tracking system) v. Adaptive (e.g., literacy)

3. Selection For (large brain for social intelligence) v. Selection Of (capacity to do quantum physics, philosophy)

BEWARE:

•Pan-adaptationism•Ultra-Darwinian Fundamentalism•Glib Inferences from universality of phenotypic trait to biological function of that trait.

Dreaming

Dreaming

Overall Idea/Conjecture:

1. Awake Consciousness has a biological function

2. Sleeping has a biological function

3. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnesshas no biological function.

4. Asleep consciousness = dream consciousnessis what you get for free from a system designed to be conscious by the light of day, which doesnot turn off completely at night & that is activated by the work that sleep does/is for.

PROBLEM ONE

How can I be sure that I am not always dreaming? (Cicero, Descartes)

PROBLEM TWO

CAN I BE IMMORAL IN DREAMS?

“You commanded me not to commit fornication…But when I

dream thoughts of fornication not only give me pleasure but

are very much like acquiescence to the act…Yet the

difference between sleeping and being awake is so great

that I return to a clear conscience when I wake and realize

that…I am not responsible for the act, although I am sorry

that by some means or other it happened to me.”

(Augustine)

PROBLEM THREE

•Are Dreams Experiences thatTake Place During Sleep? (Malcolm, Dennett)

•Are Dream-Reports reports of (the real) Dreams? (cf. Freud on dream-censorship)

PROBLEM FOUR

Is Dreaming/Dream Consciousness

1. Biological Adaptation? -- e.g. Eyesor

2. Exaptation? -- e.g. Wings

3. Spandrel? Free Rider? --- e.g. Heartbeats

or

Problem Five

If dreaming is a spandrel do dreamsmean anything or are dreams simplyunprincipled noise?

If dreaming is a spandrel can dreams be utilized in the project of self-knowledge?

If dreaming is a free rider do dreams, likeheart sounds, reveal something interesting

about the dreamer?

Functionalist Theories

1. NREM dreaming is for replenishing male & female sex hormones, cortisol, etc.

2. REM dreaming is for TRASH & SAVE/MEMORY CONSOLIDATION

3. REM dreaming is for building the brain to execute primary consciousness (perception, emotions) (3-5x in utero) [p.c. is basic, nec, required for s.c.]

4. REM dreaming is for threat-scenario simulation

REPLY: Replace ‘dream’ with ‘sleep’ in first 3; simply reject 4

Final Point: Lack of biological function for dreams,does not entail that dreams do not or cannothave discovered (heartbeat) or invented functions (reading on top of animal tracking system).

Best hope: Activation of my thoughts, my memoriesby what sleep is doing, trying to accomplish, and aided by powerful narrative/memory capacities might mean that dreams are accidentally self-expressive and thus are one (not high value) data source to be utilized in the project of self knowledge.

C’est Fini