On the Nature of Intention and Reflexes of Consciousness with Special Reference to Vedanta and Phenomenology

On the Nature of Intention and Reflexes of Consciousness with Special Reference to Vedanta and Phenomenology

Author: Chakraborty Munmun

Publisher: Seeken

Published: 2022-12-30

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781805454007

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The dilemma that has been pointed out by M.K. Bhadra in his article, On Mohanty's Conception of Intentionality, regarding Mohanty‟s attempt to derive reflexivity of consciousness from intentionality, is one of the most provocative issues that may compel anyone to indulge into consciousness studies. The necessity to carry out the present inquiry has emerged significantly from the same source. Over the times, both Husserlian phenomenology and Advaita Vedānta, have ventured exceedingly to work out the nature and fundamental features of consciousness. However, the debate among them became vibrant due to the intervention of contemporary scholars, noticeably the renowned phenomenologist J.N. Mohanty who in the true sense has made the problem to reinforce. The age-old questions that continue to poke the Indian scholars especially the Advaitins and the phenomenologists of different times can be stated as - "What is the nature of consciousness?‟ "Is consciousness by nature intentional or self-luminous (reflexive)?‟ Precisely, the purpose of this study is to evaluate these two well-known theories, namely, "the theory of reflexivity or sva-prakāśa of consciousness‟ as specifically advocated by Śaṅkara and "the theory of intentionality‟ as propounded by Husserl in a new light. In addition, the study aims to examine whether the derivation of reflexivity is logical to detain intentionality. Does intentionality occur prior to make consciousness self-aware? In other words, does reflexivity presuppose previous act of intentionality? Lastly, the present study aims to clarify whether the nature of consciousness permits any real reconciliation between these two theories or not


Book Synopsis On the Nature of Intention and Reflexes of Consciousness with Special Reference to Vedanta and Phenomenology by : Chakraborty Munmun

Download or read book On the Nature of Intention and Reflexes of Consciousness with Special Reference to Vedanta and Phenomenology written by Chakraborty Munmun and published by Seeken. This book was released on 2022-12-30 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The dilemma that has been pointed out by M.K. Bhadra in his article, On Mohanty's Conception of Intentionality, regarding Mohanty‟s attempt to derive reflexivity of consciousness from intentionality, is one of the most provocative issues that may compel anyone to indulge into consciousness studies. The necessity to carry out the present inquiry has emerged significantly from the same source. Over the times, both Husserlian phenomenology and Advaita Vedānta, have ventured exceedingly to work out the nature and fundamental features of consciousness. However, the debate among them became vibrant due to the intervention of contemporary scholars, noticeably the renowned phenomenologist J.N. Mohanty who in the true sense has made the problem to reinforce. The age-old questions that continue to poke the Indian scholars especially the Advaitins and the phenomenologists of different times can be stated as - "What is the nature of consciousness?‟ "Is consciousness by nature intentional or self-luminous (reflexive)?‟ Precisely, the purpose of this study is to evaluate these two well-known theories, namely, "the theory of reflexivity or sva-prakāśa of consciousness‟ as specifically advocated by Śaṅkara and "the theory of intentionality‟ as propounded by Husserl in a new light. In addition, the study aims to examine whether the derivation of reflexivity is logical to detain intentionality. Does intentionality occur prior to make consciousness self-aware? In other words, does reflexivity presuppose previous act of intentionality? Lastly, the present study aims to clarify whether the nature of consciousness permits any real reconciliation between these two theories or not

The Reflexive Nature of Consciousness

The Reflexive Nature of Consciousness

Author: Greg Janzen

Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 9789027252081

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Combining phenomenological insights from Brentano and Sartre, but also drawing on recent work on consciousness by analytic philosophers, this book defends the view that conscious states are reflexive, and necessarily so, i.e., that they have a built-in, “implicit” awareness of their own occurrence, such that the subject of a conscious state has an immediate, non-objectual acquaintance with it. As part of this investigation, the book also explores the relationship between reflexivity and the phenomenal, or “what-it-is-like,” dimension of conscious experience, defending the innovative thesis that phenomenal character is constituted by the implicit self-awareness built into every conscious state. This account stands in marked contrast to most influential extant theories of phenomenal character, including qualia theories, according to which phenomenal character is a matter of having phenomenal sensations, and representationalism, according to which phenomenal character is constituted by representational content. (Series A)


Book Synopsis The Reflexive Nature of Consciousness by : Greg Janzen

Download or read book The Reflexive Nature of Consciousness written by Greg Janzen and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2008 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combining phenomenological insights from Brentano and Sartre, but also drawing on recent work on consciousness by analytic philosophers, this book defends the view that conscious states are reflexive, and necessarily so, i.e., that they have a built-in, “implicit” awareness of their own occurrence, such that the subject of a conscious state has an immediate, non-objectual acquaintance with it. As part of this investigation, the book also explores the relationship between reflexivity and the phenomenal, or “what-it-is-like,” dimension of conscious experience, defending the innovative thesis that phenomenal character is constituted by the implicit self-awareness built into every conscious state. This account stands in marked contrast to most influential extant theories of phenomenal character, including qualia theories, according to which phenomenal character is a matter of having phenomenal sensations, and representationalism, according to which phenomenal character is constituted by representational content. (Series A)

Phenomenal Consciousness

Phenomenal Consciousness

Author: Dimitris Platchias

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-12-05

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 1317491874

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How can the fine-grained phenomenology of conscious experience arise from neural processes in the brain? How does a set of action potentials (nerve impulses) become like the feeling of pain in one's experience? Contemporary neuroscience is teaching us that our mental states correlate with neural processes in the brain. However, although we know that experience arises from a physical basis, we don't have a good explanation of why and how it so arises. The problem of how physical processes give rise to experience is called the 'hard problem' of consciousness and it is the contemporary manifestation of the mind-body problem. This book explains the key concepts that surround the issue as well as the nature of the hard problem and the several approaches to it. It gives a comprehensive treatment of the phenomenon incorporating its main metaphysical and epistemic aspects, as well as recent empirical findings, such as the phenomenon of blindsight, change blindness, visual-form agnosia and optic ataraxia, mirror recognition in other primates, split-brain cases and synaesthesia.


Book Synopsis Phenomenal Consciousness by : Dimitris Platchias

Download or read book Phenomenal Consciousness written by Dimitris Platchias and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-12-05 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How can the fine-grained phenomenology of conscious experience arise from neural processes in the brain? How does a set of action potentials (nerve impulses) become like the feeling of pain in one's experience? Contemporary neuroscience is teaching us that our mental states correlate with neural processes in the brain. However, although we know that experience arises from a physical basis, we don't have a good explanation of why and how it so arises. The problem of how physical processes give rise to experience is called the 'hard problem' of consciousness and it is the contemporary manifestation of the mind-body problem. This book explains the key concepts that surround the issue as well as the nature of the hard problem and the several approaches to it. It gives a comprehensive treatment of the phenomenon incorporating its main metaphysical and epistemic aspects, as well as recent empirical findings, such as the phenomenon of blindsight, change blindness, visual-form agnosia and optic ataraxia, mirror recognition in other primates, split-brain cases and synaesthesia.

Consciousness Inside and Out: Phenomenology, Neuroscience, and the Nature of Experience

Consciousness Inside and Out: Phenomenology, Neuroscience, and the Nature of Experience

Author: Richard Brown

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-08-23

Total Pages: 440

ISBN-13: 9400760019

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This volume is product of the third online consciousness conference, held at http://consciousnessonline.com in February and March 2011. Chapters range over epistemological issues in the science and philosophy of perception, what neuroscience can do to help us solve philosophical issues in the philosophy of mind, what the true nature of black and white vision, pain, auditory, olfactory, or multi-modal experiences are, to higher-order theories of consciousness, synesthesia, among others. Each chapter includes a target article, commentaries, and in most cases, a final response from the author. Though wide-ranging all of the papers aim to understand consciousness both from the inside, as we experience it, and from the outside as we encounter it in our science. The Online Consciousness Conference, founded and organized by Richard Brown, is dedicated to the rigorous study of consciousness and mind. The goal is to bring philosophers, scientists, and interested lay persons together in an online venue to promote high-level discussion and exchanging of views, ideas and data related to the scientific and philosophical study of consciousness.


Book Synopsis Consciousness Inside and Out: Phenomenology, Neuroscience, and the Nature of Experience by : Richard Brown

Download or read book Consciousness Inside and Out: Phenomenology, Neuroscience, and the Nature of Experience written by Richard Brown and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-08-23 with total page 440 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume is product of the third online consciousness conference, held at http://consciousnessonline.com in February and March 2011. Chapters range over epistemological issues in the science and philosophy of perception, what neuroscience can do to help us solve philosophical issues in the philosophy of mind, what the true nature of black and white vision, pain, auditory, olfactory, or multi-modal experiences are, to higher-order theories of consciousness, synesthesia, among others. Each chapter includes a target article, commentaries, and in most cases, a final response from the author. Though wide-ranging all of the papers aim to understand consciousness both from the inside, as we experience it, and from the outside as we encounter it in our science. The Online Consciousness Conference, founded and organized by Richard Brown, is dedicated to the rigorous study of consciousness and mind. The goal is to bring philosophers, scientists, and interested lay persons together in an online venue to promote high-level discussion and exchanging of views, ideas and data related to the scientific and philosophical study of consciousness.

Understanding Consciousness

Understanding Consciousness

Author: Max Velmans

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2009-03-26

Total Pages: 723

ISBN-13: 1134095236

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Understanding Consciousness, 2nd Edition provides a unique survey and evaluation of consciousness studies, along with an original analysis of consciousness that combines scientific findings, philosophy and common sense. Building on the widely praised first edition, this new edition adds fresh research, and deepens the original analysis in a way that reflects some of the fundamental changes in the understanding of consciousness that have taken place over the last 10 years. The book is divided into three parts; Part one surveys current theories of consciousness, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Part two reconstructs an understanding of consciousness from first principles, starting with its phenomenology, and leading to a closer examination of how conscious experience relates to the world described by physics and information processing in the brain. Finally, Part three deals with some of the fundamental issues such as what consciousness is and does, and how it fits into to the evolving universe. As the structure of the book moves from a basic overview of the field to a successively deeper analysis, it can be used both for those new to the subject and for more established researchers. Understanding Consciousness tells a story with a beginning, middle and end in a way that integrates the philosophy of consciousness with the science. Overall, the book provides a unique perspective on how to address the problems of consciousness and as such, will be of great interest to psychologists, philosophers, neuroscientists and other professionals concerned with mind/body relationships, and all who are interested in this subject.


Book Synopsis Understanding Consciousness by : Max Velmans

Download or read book Understanding Consciousness written by Max Velmans and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2009-03-26 with total page 723 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Understanding Consciousness, 2nd Edition provides a unique survey and evaluation of consciousness studies, along with an original analysis of consciousness that combines scientific findings, philosophy and common sense. Building on the widely praised first edition, this new edition adds fresh research, and deepens the original analysis in a way that reflects some of the fundamental changes in the understanding of consciousness that have taken place over the last 10 years. The book is divided into three parts; Part one surveys current theories of consciousness, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Part two reconstructs an understanding of consciousness from first principles, starting with its phenomenology, and leading to a closer examination of how conscious experience relates to the world described by physics and information processing in the brain. Finally, Part three deals with some of the fundamental issues such as what consciousness is and does, and how it fits into to the evolving universe. As the structure of the book moves from a basic overview of the field to a successively deeper analysis, it can be used both for those new to the subject and for more established researchers. Understanding Consciousness tells a story with a beginning, middle and end in a way that integrates the philosophy of consciousness with the science. Overall, the book provides a unique perspective on how to address the problems of consciousness and as such, will be of great interest to psychologists, philosophers, neuroscientists and other professionals concerned with mind/body relationships, and all who are interested in this subject.

Lectures on Consciousness and Interpretation

Lectures on Consciousness and Interpretation

Author: Jitendra Nath Mohanty

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13:

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Lectures delivered at various seminars and previously published articles.


Book Synopsis Lectures on Consciousness and Interpretation by : Jitendra Nath Mohanty

Download or read book Lectures on Consciousness and Interpretation written by Jitendra Nath Mohanty and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2009 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lectures delivered at various seminars and previously published articles.

The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness

The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness

Author: Susan Schneider

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2017-05-08

Total Pages: 847

ISBN-13: 0470674075

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Updated and revised, the highly-anticipated second edition of The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness offers a collection of readings that together represent the most thorough and comprehensive survey of the nature of consciousness available today. Features updates to scientific chapters reflecting the latest research in the field Includes 18 new theoretical, empirical, and methodological chapters covering integrated information theory, renewed interest in panpsychism, and more Covers a wide array of topics that include the origins and extent of consciousness, various consciousness experiences such as meditation and drug-induced states, and the neuroscience of consciousness Presents 54 peer-reviewed chapters written by leading experts in the study of consciousness, from across a variety of academic disciplines


Book Synopsis The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness by : Susan Schneider

Download or read book The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness written by Susan Schneider and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2017-05-08 with total page 847 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Updated and revised, the highly-anticipated second edition of The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness offers a collection of readings that together represent the most thorough and comprehensive survey of the nature of consciousness available today. Features updates to scientific chapters reflecting the latest research in the field Includes 18 new theoretical, empirical, and methodological chapters covering integrated information theory, renewed interest in panpsychism, and more Covers a wide array of topics that include the origins and extent of consciousness, various consciousness experiences such as meditation and drug-induced states, and the neuroscience of consciousness Presents 54 peer-reviewed chapters written by leading experts in the study of consciousness, from across a variety of academic disciplines

Conscious Thinking and Cognitive Phenomenology

Conscious Thinking and Cognitive Phenomenology

Author: Marta Jorba

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2019-10-23

Total Pages: 339

ISBN-13: 1351121413

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This book concerns the nature and character of conscious thinking from a philosophical perspective. One main aspect of conscious thinking addressed by the contributors is the phenomenal character involved in undergoing an episode of thinking or, in other words, the question of what it is like to think a certain thought, what has been called ‘cognitive phenomenology’. This contested phenomenal character constitutes a form of phenomenal consciousness that needs clarification and further consideration within consciousness studies, cognitive psychology and philosophy. The present volume brings together chapters on the topic that contribute to clarify the notions and questions involved in the discussion, expanding the scope of the debate on cognitive phenomenology to other relevant aspects of conscious thinking and related domains. Several different topics are treated in the book, such as the relation of cognitive phenomenology with rationality, with the self, with attention or with the notion of cognitive access, as well as consideration of particular kinds of experiences of recognition and the so-called ‘aha’ experiences. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Philosophical Explorations.


Book Synopsis Conscious Thinking and Cognitive Phenomenology by : Marta Jorba

Download or read book Conscious Thinking and Cognitive Phenomenology written by Marta Jorba and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-10-23 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book concerns the nature and character of conscious thinking from a philosophical perspective. One main aspect of conscious thinking addressed by the contributors is the phenomenal character involved in undergoing an episode of thinking or, in other words, the question of what it is like to think a certain thought, what has been called ‘cognitive phenomenology’. This contested phenomenal character constitutes a form of phenomenal consciousness that needs clarification and further consideration within consciousness studies, cognitive psychology and philosophy. The present volume brings together chapters on the topic that contribute to clarify the notions and questions involved in the discussion, expanding the scope of the debate on cognitive phenomenology to other relevant aspects of conscious thinking and related domains. Several different topics are treated in the book, such as the relation of cognitive phenomenology with rationality, with the self, with attention or with the notion of cognitive access, as well as consideration of particular kinds of experiences of recognition and the so-called ‘aha’ experiences. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Philosophical Explorations.

Quantifying Consciousness

Quantifying Consciousness

Author: R.J. Pekala

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-11-11

Total Pages: 427

ISBN-13: 1489906290

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This book presents an approach to quantifying consciousness and its various states. It represents over ten years of work in developing, test ing, and researching the use of relatively simple self-report question naires in the retrospective assessment of subjective or phenomenologi cal experience. While the simplicity of the method allows for subjective experience to be reliably and validly assessed across various short stim ulus conditions, the flexibility of the approach allows the cognitive psy chologist, consciousness researcher, and mental health professional to quantify and statistically assess the phenomenological variables associ ated with various stimulus conditions, altered-state induction tech niques, and clinical procedures. The methodology allows the cognitive psychologist and mental health professional to comprehensively quantify the structures and pat terns of subjective experience dealing with imagery, attention, affect, volitional control, internal dialogue, and so forth to determine how these phenomenological structures might covary during such stimulus conditions as free association, a sexual fantasy, creative problem solving, or a panic attack. It allows for various phenomenological pro cesses to be reported, quantified, and statistically assessed in a rather comprehensive fashion that should help shed greater understanding on the nature of mind or consciousness.


Book Synopsis Quantifying Consciousness by : R.J. Pekala

Download or read book Quantifying Consciousness written by R.J. Pekala and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-11-11 with total page 427 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an approach to quantifying consciousness and its various states. It represents over ten years of work in developing, test ing, and researching the use of relatively simple self-report question naires in the retrospective assessment of subjective or phenomenologi cal experience. While the simplicity of the method allows for subjective experience to be reliably and validly assessed across various short stim ulus conditions, the flexibility of the approach allows the cognitive psy chologist, consciousness researcher, and mental health professional to quantify and statistically assess the phenomenological variables associ ated with various stimulus conditions, altered-state induction tech niques, and clinical procedures. The methodology allows the cognitive psychologist and mental health professional to comprehensively quantify the structures and pat terns of subjective experience dealing with imagery, attention, affect, volitional control, internal dialogue, and so forth to determine how these phenomenological structures might covary during such stimulus conditions as free association, a sexual fantasy, creative problem solving, or a panic attack. It allows for various phenomenological pro cesses to be reported, quantified, and statistically assessed in a rather comprehensive fashion that should help shed greater understanding on the nature of mind or consciousness.

An Ontology of Consciousness

An Ontology of Consciousness

Author: R. Ellis

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2013-03-09

Total Pages: 212

ISBN-13: 9401707154

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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.


Book Synopsis An Ontology of Consciousness by : R. Ellis

Download or read book An Ontology of Consciousness written by R. Ellis and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.