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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Causation must be understood from the perspective of consciousness rather than from a purely physical or impersonal perspective.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    2 perspectives
    Reason for 1 of 2
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    • 1.Causal relations obtain independently of any observer or experiencer, as evidenced by physical processes preceding the emergence of consciousness.
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    • 2.A pragmatic orientation toward explanation conflates the epistemic utility of a framework with the metaphysical structure of what it describes.
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    • 3.Dharmakirti's own apoha theory grounds valid cognition in causal efficacy (arthakriyasakti), suggesting causation is the criterion for reality, not consciousness its precondition.
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    Reason for 2 of 2
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    • 1.Mereological eliminativism, defended by thinkers like Vasubandhu in his Abhidharma phase, entails that dharmas—not mental continuants—are the irreducible causal relata.
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    • 2.If the fundamental bearers of causal power are momentary, mind-independent dharmas, then consciousness is itself causally derived rather than causally foundational.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.The Buddhist explanatory account is generally pragmatic in orientation.
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    • 2.Consciousness is central to effecting the changes necessary for an individual on the noble eightfold path to make real progress.
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    • 3.An explanatory account of causation should be structured around what is central to the practical goals the account is meant to serve.
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