Subjective character of experience
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| + | The '''subjective character of experience''' is a term in psychology and the [[philosophy of mind]] denoting that all [[subjectivity|subjective]] [[phenomena]] are associated with a single [[perspective (cognitive)|point of view]] ("[[Id, ego and super-ego|ego]]"). The term was coined and illuminated by [[Thomas Nagel]] in his famous paper ''What is It Like to Be a [[Bat]]?'' | ||
| - | '''Mind''' is the aspect of [[intellect]] and [[consciousness]] experienced as combinations of [[thought]], [[perception]], [[memory]], [[emotion]], [[free will|will]] and [[imagination]], including all unconscious [[cognitive]] processes. The term is often used to refer, by implication, to the thought processes of [[reason]]. Mind manifests itself [[subjectivity|subjectively]] as a [[stream of consciousness (psychology)|stream of consciousness]]. | + | Nagel argues that, because bats are apparently [[conscious]] [[mammals]] with a way of perceiving their environment entirely different from that of [[human beings]], it is possible to speak of "what is like to ''be'' a bat ''for'' the bat" or, while the example of the bat is particularly illustrative, any conscious species, as each organism has a unique point of view from which no other organism can gather [[experience]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} To Nagel the subjective character of experience implies the [[Cognitive closure (philosophy)|cognitive closure]] of the human [[mind]] to some facts, specifically the [[mental state]]s{{dn}} that [[body|physical states]] create. |
| - | Theories of mind and its function are numerous. Earliest recorded speculations are from the likes of [[Zoroaster]], [[Gautama Buddha|the Buddha]], [[Plato]], [[Aristotle]], [[Adi Shankara]] and other ancient [[Greek philosophy|Greek]], [[Indian philosophy|Indian]] and, later, [[Islamic psychological thought|Islamic philosophers]]. Pre-scientific theories grounded in [[theology]] concentrated on the supposed relationship between the mind and the [[soul]], our supernatural, [[divinity|divine]] or god-given essence. Most contemporary theories, informed by scientific study of the brain, theorize that the mind is an [[epiphenomenon]] of the brain which has both conscious and [[Unconscious mind|unconscious]] aspects. | + | ==Subjective reality== |
| + | The subjectivity of perception of reality implies that perception of all of the things, concepts, and "truths" in the universe differ between individuals: we all live in different worlds, each of which may have things in common, because of our unique perspectives on our worlds. The only thing to which one can hold oneself is something one has experienced or perceived. Until someone has had an experience of something the object or concept within itself is not real. Someone in Africa is aware of the existence of fire and sees it but for an Eskimo who has never seen fire before the fire does not exist in the same way. So, if we could all know god from the same standpoint then we would all agree while, as it is, there are different perspectives and interpretations of different events and philosophies. The idea of the subjectivity of reality also hints at an aspect of moral relativism, that each person's opinions are the only things they can hold themselves to. | ||
| - | Which attributes make up the mind is much debated. Some argue that only the ''higher'' intellectual functions constitute mind, particularly reason and [[memory]]. In this view the emotions—[[love]], [[hate]], [[fear]], [[joy]]—are more ''primitive ''or subjective in nature and should be seen as different from the mind as such. Others argue that various rational and emotional states cannot be so separated, that they are of the same nature and origin, and should therefore be considered all part of what we call the mind. | + | ==Dual-subjective reality== |
| + | A dual-subjective reality arises when an individual's mind interrupts information and, instead of creating only one interpretation that the conscious mind can make sense of, creates several. These differing "realities" then cause conflict in that individual who may confuse what is actually happening around them with alternative realities formulated in their mind. | ||
| - | In popular usage ''mind ''is frequently synonymous with ''thought'': the private conversation with ourselves that we carry on "inside our heads." Thus we "make up our minds," "change our minds" or are "of two minds" about something. One of the key attributes of the mind in this sense is that it is a private sphere to which no one but the owner has access. No one else can "know our mind." They can only interpret what we consciously or unconsciously communicate. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | * [[Cognitive sciences]] | + | * [[Dualism (philosophy of mind)]] |
| - | * [[Conscience]] | + | * [[Inverted spectrum]] |
| - | * [[Mental state]] | + | * [[Functionalism (philosophy of mind)|Functionalism]] |
| - | * [[Mental energy]] | + | * [[Map–territory relation|The map is not the territory]] |
| - | * [[Mind at Large]] | + | * [[Mary's Room]] |
| - | * [[Neural Darwinism]] | + | * [[Philosophy of mind]] |
| - | * [[Subjective character of experience]] | + | * [[Philosophy of perception]] |
| - | * [[Theory of mind]] | + | * [[Physicalism]] |
| - | * [[Skandha]] | + | * [[Qualia]] |
| + | * [[Philosophical zombies|Zombies]] | ||
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Revision as of 08:27, 10 June 2011
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The subjective character of experience is a term in psychology and the philosophy of mind denoting that all subjective phenomena are associated with a single point of view ("ego"). The term was coined and illuminated by Thomas Nagel in his famous paper What is It Like to Be a Bat?
Nagel argues that, because bats are apparently conscious mammals with a way of perceiving their environment entirely different from that of human beings, it is possible to speak of "what is like to be a bat for the bat" or, while the example of the bat is particularly illustrative, any conscious species, as each organism has a unique point of view from which no other organism can gather experience.Template:Citation needed To Nagel the subjective character of experience implies the cognitive closure of the human mind to some facts, specifically the mental statesTemplate:Dn that physical states create.
Subjective reality
The subjectivity of perception of reality implies that perception of all of the things, concepts, and "truths" in the universe differ between individuals: we all live in different worlds, each of which may have things in common, because of our unique perspectives on our worlds. The only thing to which one can hold oneself is something one has experienced or perceived. Until someone has had an experience of something the object or concept within itself is not real. Someone in Africa is aware of the existence of fire and sees it but for an Eskimo who has never seen fire before the fire does not exist in the same way. So, if we could all know god from the same standpoint then we would all agree while, as it is, there are different perspectives and interpretations of different events and philosophies. The idea of the subjectivity of reality also hints at an aspect of moral relativism, that each person's opinions are the only things they can hold themselves to.
Dual-subjective reality
A dual-subjective reality arises when an individual's mind interrupts information and, instead of creating only one interpretation that the conscious mind can make sense of, creates several. These differing "realities" then cause conflict in that individual who may confuse what is actually happening around them with alternative realities formulated in their mind.
See also
- Dualism (philosophy of mind)
- Inverted spectrum
- Functionalism
- The map is not the territory
- Mary's Room
- Philosophy of mind
- Philosophy of perception
- Physicalism
- Qualia
- Zombies
