Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

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

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    If two sensory ideas share identical phenomenal character... — Carmelics
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Part of a larger discussion

    Challenges→Sensory ideas are not misrepresentations of qualities in objects, but are so obscure and confused that we cannot determine their representational content from their phenomenal character alone.

    If two sensory ideas share identical phenomenal character, they share identical representational content — obscurity cannot divorce the two without collapsing the concept of misrepresentation entirely.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Phenomenal character constitutes the intrinsic qualitative nature of experience; without it determining content, qualia become epiphenomenal.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Misrepresentation requires a distinction between how things appear and what is actually the case; identical phenomenology entails identical apparent content.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Content externalism relies on factors beyond phenomenology; accepting this while claiming phenomenal identity preserves content distinction is incoherent.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Twin Earth cases demonstrate identical phenomenology can yield different representational contents via environmental/historical differences alone.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Misrepresentation requires only a mismatch between content and world; phenomenal character needn't determine which world-state content targets.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Obscurity in representing a property (e.g., unclear perception of redness) differs from misrepresenting it; the distinction survives phenomenal identity.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Key Terms

    Representational content(as what explains how our beliefs can mean something)
    The ability of thoughts, mental images, or beliefs to be 'about' something in the real world—like how the thought 'it's raining' represents an actual weather condition.
    misrepresentation(teleological theories of mental content)
    A representation being produced in response to a stimulus that does not match the conditions under which it is supposed to be produced, according to its teleological function
    phenomenal character(Used to distinguish the mere presence of experience from the specific qualitative nature of individual experiences)
    The qualitative, subjective 'what it is like' aspect of mental states; the property of having qualia
    sensory ideas(Descartes, Comments on a Certain Broadsheet)
    Ideas of qualities such as pains, colors, and sounds, arising via the senses; a species of adventitious idea

    Connections

    2 topics

    Perception1 linkedPhilosophy of Language1 linked

    Related

    Content externalism relies on factors beyond phenomenology; accepting this while...Misrepresentation requires a distinction between how things appear and what is a...Misrepresentation requires only a mismatch between content and world; phenomenal...Obscurity in representing a property (e.g., unclear perception of redness) diffe...
    +3 moreShow less
    Phenomenal character constitutes the intrinsic qualitative nature of experience;...Sensory ideas are not misrepresentations of qualities in objects, but are so obs...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    Twin Earth cases demonstrate identical phenomenology can yield different represe...