An Ontology of Consciousness

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Metaphysics
Cover of the book An Ontology of Consciousness by R. Ellis, Springer Netherlands
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: R. Ellis ISBN: 9789401707152
Publisher: Springer Netherlands Publication: March 9, 2013
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: R. Ellis
ISBN: 9789401707152
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Publication: March 9, 2013
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

The object of this study is to find a coherent theoretical approach to three problems which appear to interrelate in complex ways: (1) What is the ontological status of consciousness? (2) How can there be 'un­ conscious,' 'prereflective' or 'self-alienated' consciousness? And (3) Is there a 'self' or 'ego' formed by means of the interrelation of more elementary states of consciousness? The motivation for combining such a diversity of difficult questions is that we often learn more by looking at interrelations of problems than we could by viewing them only in isola­ tion. The three questions posed here have emerged as especially prob­ lematic in the context of twentieth century philosophy. 1. The question of the ontological status of consciousness The question 'What is consciousness?' is one of the most perplexing in philosophy-so perplexing that many have been motivated to proceed as though consciousness did not exist. If William James was speaking rhetorically when he said "Consciousness does not exist," 1 many behaviorists of the recent past were not. 2 James meant only to imply that consciousness is not an independently existing soul-substance, along­ side physical substances. He did not mean that we do not really 'have' consciousness, and he did not provide final resolution for the problem of the causal interrelations between consciousness and the physical realm (e. g. , our bodies). Many recent philosophers and psychologists, however, try to proceed as though these problems did not exist.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The object of this study is to find a coherent theoretical approach to three problems which appear to interrelate in complex ways: (1) What is the ontological status of consciousness? (2) How can there be 'un­ conscious,' 'prereflective' or 'self-alienated' consciousness? And (3) Is there a 'self' or 'ego' formed by means of the interrelation of more elementary states of consciousness? The motivation for combining such a diversity of difficult questions is that we often learn more by looking at interrelations of problems than we could by viewing them only in isola­ tion. The three questions posed here have emerged as especially prob­ lematic in the context of twentieth century philosophy. 1. The question of the ontological status of consciousness The question 'What is consciousness?' is one of the most perplexing in philosophy-so perplexing that many have been motivated to proceed as though consciousness did not exist. If William James was speaking rhetorically when he said "Consciousness does not exist," 1 many behaviorists of the recent past were not. 2 James meant only to imply that consciousness is not an independently existing soul-substance, along­ side physical substances. He did not mean that we do not really 'have' consciousness, and he did not provide final resolution for the problem of the causal interrelations between consciousness and the physical realm (e. g. , our bodies). Many recent philosophers and psychologists, however, try to proceed as though these problems did not exist.

More books from Springer Netherlands

Cover of the book Climate Variability and Change in High Elevation Regions: Past, Present & Future by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Design Computing and Cognition '12 by R. Ellis
Cover of the book High-Pressure Crystallography by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Quantitative videoangiocardiography by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Sexual Homicide of Women on the U.S.-Mexican Border by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Technological Transformation by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Systems Metabolic Engineering by R. Ellis
Cover of the book CCN proteins in health and disease by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Remote Sensing of Urban and Suburban Areas by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Oceanography from Space by R. Ellis
Cover of the book International Handbook of Migration and Population Distribution by R. Ellis
Cover of the book The Life Cycle of Copper, Its Co-Products and Byproducts by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Virginitas by R. Ellis
Cover of the book The Infrared Spectra of Complex Molecules by R. Ellis
Cover of the book Gender, Lifespan and Quality of Life by R. Ellis
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy