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On the Intrinsic Value of Consciousness

Year 2023, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 15, 27.08.2023
https://doi.org/10.51404/metazihin.1291681

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.

References

  • Armstrong, D. M. (1973). Belief, Truth and Knowledge. New York: Cambridge Press.
  • Benatar, D. (2006). Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Block, N. (2011a). “The Higher Order Approach to Consciousness is Defunct.” Analysis, 71: 419-31.
  • Block, N. (2011b). “Response to Rosenthal and Weisberg.” Analysis, 71: 443-48.
  • Chalmers, D. J. (1996). The Conscious Mind. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Chudnoff, E. (2011). “The Nature of Intuitive Justification.” Philosophical Studies, 153: 313-33.
  • Chudnoff, E. (2012). “Presentational Phenomenology.” In S. Miguens and G. Preyer (Eds.), Consciousness and Subjectivity (p. 51-72). Frankfurt: Ontos Verlag.
  • Elkatip Hatipoglu, S. (2022). “Empty Higher Order States in Higher Order Theories of Consciousness.” Croatian Journal of Philosophy, 64: 91-100.
  • Lee, A. (2019). “Is Consciousness Intrinsically Valuable?” Philosophical Studies, 176: 655-71.
  • Lee, G. (2014). “Materialism and the Epistemic Significance of Consciousness.” In U. Kriegel (Ed.), Current Controversies in the Philosophy of Mind (p. 222-45). New York & London: Routledge Press.
  • Levy, N. (2014). “The Value of Consciousness.” Journal of Consciousness Studies, 21: 127-38.
  • Nagel, T. (1979). Mortal Questions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Nederkoorn, C., Vancleef, L., Wilkenhöner, A., Claes, L. and Havermans, R. C. (2016). “Self-inflicted Pain out of Boredom.” Psychiatry research, 237: 127-132.
  • Rosenthal, D. (2000). “Metacognition and Higher Order Thoughts.” Consciousness and Cognition, 9: 231-42.
  • Rosenthal, D. (2011). “Exaggerated Reports: A Reply to Block.” Analysis, 71: 431-37.
  • Shepherd, J. (2018). Consciousness and Moral Status. New York & London: Routledge Press.
  • Siegel, S. and Silins, N. (2014). “Consciousness, Attention, and Justification.” In E. Zardini & D. Dodd (Eds.), Scepticism and Perceptual Justification (p. 149-170). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Siegel, S. and Silins, N. (2015). “The Epistemology of Perception.” In M. Mathen (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Perception (p. 781–811). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Siewert, C. (1998). The Significance of Consciousness. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Siewert, C. (2014). “Speaking up for Consciousness.” In U. Kriegel (Ed.), Current Controversies in the Philosophy of Mind (p. 199-221). New York & London: Routledge Press.
  • Siewert, C. (2021). “Consciousness: Value, Concern, Respect.” In U. Kriegel (Ed.), Oxford Studies in Philosophy in Mind (p. 3-40). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Strawson, G. (2018). Things That Bother Me: Death, Freedom, the Self, etc. New York: New York Review Books.
  • Weisberg, J. (2011). “Abusing the Notion of What-it-is-like-ness: A Response to Block.” Analysis, 71: 443-48.
  • Yusoufzai, M. K., Vancleef L., Lobbestael, J. and Nederkoorn, C. (2022). “Painfully bored: The Role of Negative Urgency and History of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Self-Administering Painful Stimuli.” Motivation and Emotion, 46: 689-701.

Bilincin Özünde Değeri Üzerine

Year 2023, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 15, 27.08.2023
https://doi.org/10.51404/metazihin.1291681

Abstract

Fenomenal bilince sahip olmanın bir değeri var mıdır? Bir taraftan bilincin önemi bariz ve bilinçsiz bir hayat anlamsız görünse de bazı düşünürler bilince atfedilen değeri eleştirmiştir. Örneğin Lee (2019) nötr görüşü kabul etmiş ve bilincin özünde ne değerli ne de değersiz olduğunu savunmuştur. Bu çalışmada önce Lee’nin (2019) nötr görüş için sunduğu sebepleri inceliyorum. Sonrasında bilincin özünde değeri olup olmadığı sorusunu bilincin araçsal değeri olup olmadığı sorusuyla karıştırmamak için bilincin özünde değerini, bakış açısına sahip olmanın değeri olarak düşünmeyi öneriyorum. Bu çerçevede bakış açısına sahip olmanın ne anlama geldiğini ele alıyor ve eğer bilincin ya da bakış açısına sahip olmanın özünde bir değeri varsa, bu değerin epistemolojik bir değer olduğunu öneriyorum.

References

  • Armstrong, D. M. (1973). Belief, Truth and Knowledge. New York: Cambridge Press.
  • Benatar, D. (2006). Better Never to Have Been: The Harm of Coming into Existence. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Block, N. (2011a). “The Higher Order Approach to Consciousness is Defunct.” Analysis, 71: 419-31.
  • Block, N. (2011b). “Response to Rosenthal and Weisberg.” Analysis, 71: 443-48.
  • Chalmers, D. J. (1996). The Conscious Mind. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Chudnoff, E. (2011). “The Nature of Intuitive Justification.” Philosophical Studies, 153: 313-33.
  • Chudnoff, E. (2012). “Presentational Phenomenology.” In S. Miguens and G. Preyer (Eds.), Consciousness and Subjectivity (p. 51-72). Frankfurt: Ontos Verlag.
  • Elkatip Hatipoglu, S. (2022). “Empty Higher Order States in Higher Order Theories of Consciousness.” Croatian Journal of Philosophy, 64: 91-100.
  • Lee, A. (2019). “Is Consciousness Intrinsically Valuable?” Philosophical Studies, 176: 655-71.
  • Lee, G. (2014). “Materialism and the Epistemic Significance of Consciousness.” In U. Kriegel (Ed.), Current Controversies in the Philosophy of Mind (p. 222-45). New York & London: Routledge Press.
  • Levy, N. (2014). “The Value of Consciousness.” Journal of Consciousness Studies, 21: 127-38.
  • Nagel, T. (1979). Mortal Questions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Nederkoorn, C., Vancleef, L., Wilkenhöner, A., Claes, L. and Havermans, R. C. (2016). “Self-inflicted Pain out of Boredom.” Psychiatry research, 237: 127-132.
  • Rosenthal, D. (2000). “Metacognition and Higher Order Thoughts.” Consciousness and Cognition, 9: 231-42.
  • Rosenthal, D. (2011). “Exaggerated Reports: A Reply to Block.” Analysis, 71: 431-37.
  • Shepherd, J. (2018). Consciousness and Moral Status. New York & London: Routledge Press.
  • Siegel, S. and Silins, N. (2014). “Consciousness, Attention, and Justification.” In E. Zardini & D. Dodd (Eds.), Scepticism and Perceptual Justification (p. 149-170). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Siegel, S. and Silins, N. (2015). “The Epistemology of Perception.” In M. Mathen (Ed.), Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Perception (p. 781–811). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Siewert, C. (1998). The Significance of Consciousness. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • Siewert, C. (2014). “Speaking up for Consciousness.” In U. Kriegel (Ed.), Current Controversies in the Philosophy of Mind (p. 199-221). New York & London: Routledge Press.
  • Siewert, C. (2021). “Consciousness: Value, Concern, Respect.” In U. Kriegel (Ed.), Oxford Studies in Philosophy in Mind (p. 3-40). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Strawson, G. (2018). Things That Bother Me: Death, Freedom, the Self, etc. New York: New York Review Books.
  • Weisberg, J. (2011). “Abusing the Notion of What-it-is-like-ness: A Response to Block.” Analysis, 71: 443-48.
  • Yusoufzai, M. K., Vancleef L., Lobbestael, J. and Nederkoorn, C. (2022). “Painfully bored: The Role of Negative Urgency and History of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Self-Administering Painful Stimuli.” Motivation and Emotion, 46: 689-701.
There are 24 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
Journal Section Research/Review Articles
Authors

Sinem Elkatip Hatipoğlu 0000-0002-0055-9109

Early Pub Date October 5, 2023
Publication Date August 27, 2023
Acceptance Date August 27, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

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