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    Carmelics

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    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
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    Perspectives
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    Home/Original/inverse
    See Original
    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Phenomenal character is itself constitutive of representational content for sensory states, not merely a symptom of it (Shoemaker, 'The Inverted Spectrum').

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

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Conceivability of inverted spectra doesn't entail metaphysical possibility; neurobiological constraints may make such inversions impossible.
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    • 2.Representational content depends on external causal-historical relations, not intrinsic phenomenal properties, per externalist theories of content.
      ?

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    • 3.Two organisms with identical functional organizations and causal histories should have identical representational contents, regardless of phenomenal differences.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Inverted spectrum scenarios are conceivable only if phenomenal character can vary while functional/behavioral roles remain constant.
      ?

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    • 2.If two states have identical functional profiles but different qualia, their representational content must differ, making phenomenal character constitutive.
      ?

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    • 3.The explanatory gap between physical properties and qualia suggests phenomenal character carries representational information beyond physical facts.
      ?

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