
Colin McGinn presents his latest work on consciousness in ten interlinked essays, four of them previously unpublished. He extends and deepens his controversial solution to the mind-body problem, defending the view that consciousness is both ontologically unproblematic and epistemologically impenetrable. He also investigates the basis of our knowledge that there is a mind-body problem, and the bearing of this on attempted solutions. McGinn goes on to discuss the status of first-person authority, the possibility of atomism with respect to consciousness, extreme dualism, and the role of non-existent objects in constituting intentionality. He argues that traditional claims about our knowledge of our own mind and of the external world can be inverted; that atomism about the conscious mind might turn out to be true; that dualism is more credible the more extreme it is; and that all intentionality involves non-existent objects. These are all surprising positions, but he contends that what the philosophy of mind needs now is 'methodological radicalism' - a willingness to consider new and seemingly extravagant ideas.
This work investigates the core question of whether consciousness is ontologically unproblematic yet epistemologically impenetrable to human understanding. Colin McGinn, a prominent philosopher of mind, utilizes a collection of ten interlinked essays to expand upon his established position regarding the mind-body problem. He argues for a methodological radicalism, challenging traditional assumptions about self-knowledge and the nature of intentionality through a series of provocative philosophical propositions.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Experts recognize this text as a significant contribution to the ongoing debate surrounding McGinn's specific brand of mysterianism. Readers frequently note the high level of academic density and the challenging nature of the author's radical philosophical claims.
Page Count:
272
Publication Date:
2006-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191533122
ISBN-13:
9780191533129
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