Phenomenal Consciousness: A Naturalistic Theory

How can phenomenal consciousness exist as an integral part of a physical universe? How can the technicolour phenomenology of our inner lives be created out of the complex neural activities of our brains? Many have despaired of finding answers to these questions; and many have claimed that human consciousness is inherently mysterious. Peter Carruthers argues, on the contrary, that the subjective feel of our experience is fully explicable in naturalistic (scientifically acceptable) terms. Drawing on a variety of interdisciplinary resources, he develops and defends a novel account in terms of higher-order thought. He shows that this can explain away some of the more extravagant claims made about phenomenal consciousness, while substantively explaining the key subjectivity of our experience. Written with characteristic clarity and directness, and surveying a wide range of extant theories, this book is essential reading for all those within philosophy and psychology interested in the problem of consciousness.

• Develops a novel solution to a problem that is now of central concern to many in the cognitive sciences • Surveys all the main arguments and theories in the area • Clearly and accessibly written

1. Assumptions, distinctions, and a map; 2. Perspectival, subjective, and worldly facts; 3. Explanatory gaps and qualia; 4. Naturalisation and narrow content; 5. First-order representationalism; 6. Against first-order representationalism; 7. Higher-order representationalism: a first defence; 8. Dispositionalist higher-order thought theory (1): function; 9. Dispositionalist higher-order thought theory (2): feel; 10. Phenomenal consciousness and language; 11. Fragmentary consciousness and the Cartesian theatre.

‘Carruthers’ book is a marvellous and wide-ranging critical introduction to the problem of conciousness from a representational theory point of view … Carruthers also develops and defends a highly original version of the representational theory of consciousness which boasts a remarkable degree of depth and precision … an intriguing and original addition to the growing range of representational theories of consciousness, which is the most exciting area in consciousness studies at the moment … Carruthers’ book is now an essential part of the literature in this area.’

– William Seager, University of Toronto