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
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    The knowledge argument shows Mary learns a new fact upon ... — Carmelics
    Home
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Part of a larger discussion

    Supports→Zombies are possible

    The knowledge argument shows Mary learns a new fact upon seeing red, confirming phenomenal properties are not a priori entailed by complete physical descriptions.

    ?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.Mary gains new information (what red looks like) despite already knowing all physical facts about color perception and neuroscience.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If phenomenal properties were entailed by physical descriptions, Mary couldn't learn anything new since she already had complete physical knowledge.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The subjective character of experience (qualia) appears absent from any objective physical description, however complete.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Mary gains new *acquaintance knowledge* (knowing-what), not new *propositional knowledge* (knowing-that), so no new fact about physical properties emerges.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Mary's isolation was epistemic, not metaphysical—she learns new ways to access old facts, not that new non-physical facts exist.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.The argument assumes physical knowledge must be expressible in neuroscientific terms, but phenomenal knowledge might be physical knowledge in different form.
      ?

      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

    knowledge(Distinguished from mere true belief, which may be the product of indoctrination and need not exercise deliberative capacities.)
    Justified true belief — true belief that has been arrived at through the exercise of deliberative capacities, including comparison of and deliberation among alternatives.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Consciousness & Mind1 linkedModality & Possibility1 linked

    Related

    If phenomenal properties were entailed by physical descriptions, Mary couldn't l...Mary gains new *acquaintance knowledge* (knowing-what), not new *propositional k...Mary gains new information (what red looks like) despite already knowing all phy...Mary's isolation was epistemic, not metaphysical—she learns new ways to access o...
    +3 moreShow less
    The argument assumes physical knowledge must be expressible in neuroscientific t...The subjective character of experience (qualia) appears absent from any objectiv...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit
    Zombies are possible