Research Article

On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness

Volume: 6 Number: 1 August 27, 2023
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On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness

Abstract

Is there value in the instantiation of phenomenal consciousness? While consciousness seems obviously valuable and life without consciousness does not seem to have much meaning to it, further investigation proves otherwise. Some have argued that consciousness may not be as significant and valuable as it may seem. Lee (2019) e.g. endorses the neutral view and argues that consciousness is neither intrinsically valuable nor disvaluable. In this paper, first I critically examine Lee’s (2019) argument for the neutral view. Then I suggest that in order to critically examine the question of whether consciousness is intrinsically valuable without confusing this question with the question of whether it is instrumentally valuable, value of consciousness needs to be considered as the value present in having a viewpoint. I then develop a way of understanding what having a viewpoint is. Lastly, I suggest that if consciousness or having a viewpoint has intrinsic value, it is of an epistemic kind.

Keywords

References

  1. Armstrong, D. M. (1973). Belief, Truth and Knowledge. New York: Cambridge Press.
  2. Benatar, D. (2006). Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  3. Block, N. (2011a). “The Higher Order Approach to Consciousness is Defunct.” Analysis, 71: 419-31.
  4. Block, N. (2011b). “Response to Rosenthal and Weisberg.” Analysis, 71: 443-48.
  5. Chalmers, D. J. (1996). The Conscious Mind. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  6. Chudnoff, E. (2011). “The Nature of Intuitive Justification.” Philosophical Studies, 153: 313-33.
  7. Chudnoff, E. (2012). “Presentational Phenomenology.” In S. Miguens and G. Preyer (Eds.), Consciousness and Subjectivity (p. 51-72). Frankfurt: Ontos Verlag.
  8. Elkatip Hatipoglu, S. (2022). “Empty Higher Order States in Higher Order Theories of Consciousness.” Croatian Journal of Philosophy, 64: 91-100.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

October 5, 2023

Publication Date

August 27, 2023

Submission Date

May 3, 2023

Acceptance Date

August 27, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 6 Number: 1

APA
Elkatip Hatipoğlu, S. (2023). On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka Ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi, 6(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.51404/metazihin.1291681
AMA
1.Elkatip Hatipoğlu S. On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi. 2023;6(1):1-15. doi:10.51404/metazihin.1291681
Chicago
Elkatip Hatipoğlu, Sinem. 2023. “On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness”. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka Ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi 6 (1): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.51404/metazihin.1291681.
EndNote
Elkatip Hatipoğlu S (August 1, 2023) On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi 6 1 1–15.
IEEE
[1]S. Elkatip Hatipoğlu, “On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness”, MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1–15, Aug. 2023, doi: 10.51404/metazihin.1291681.
ISNAD
Elkatip Hatipoğlu, Sinem. “On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness”. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi 6/1 (August 1, 2023): 1-15. https://doi.org/10.51404/metazihin.1291681.
JAMA
1.Elkatip Hatipoğlu S. On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi. 2023;6:1–15.
MLA
Elkatip Hatipoğlu, Sinem. “On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness”. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka Ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi, vol. 6, no. 1, Aug. 2023, pp. 1-15, doi:10.51404/metazihin.1291681.
Vancouver
1.Sinem Elkatip Hatipoğlu. On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness. MetaZihin: Yapay Zeka ve Zihin Felsefesi Dergisi. 2023 Aug. 1;6(1):1-15. doi:10.51404/metazihin.1291681