Consciousness Is Motor

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract We remember William James for his colorful descriptions of subjective experience, perhaps above all. But in Consciousness Is Motor, Alexander Klein shows that sculpted phenomenal around an armature empirical details. reconstructs James’s models consciousness and volition, uncovering results from animal experimentation clinical observation on which those were built. early work engaged the 1870s automatism controversy. The controversy was triggered, argues, by experiments demonstrating living, decapitated frogs are capable goal-directed action. One side regarded goal-directedness as evidence spinal consciousness; other espoused epiphenomenalism, reasoning must play no role producing even purposive action since latter is possible brainless creatures. intervened, shows, arguing has a likely evolutionary function—behavior regulation—and so cannot be mere epiphenomenon. It accomplishes this function affording capacity evaluation, Klein’s reading. As evidence, appealed not just to introspection, but also experimental facts, such hemisphere-less vertebrates have diminished evaluating different available means pursue goals. “ideo-motor” model demonstrated precisely how could help regulate behavior. excavates key observations designed ideo-motor accommodate. would later feed into distinctive philosophical outlook, concludes, soon known pragmatism.

Language: Английский

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Preface

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

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Action

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract This chapter provides a reading of James’s account will (volition) and his related, causal theory action. It begins by identifying deep connection between accounts consciousness will. Consciousness typically involves what James calls “absent sensation,” one variety which is the “anticipatory image,” key trigger in volitional The shows that recognized hierarchy actions. All “ideo-motor actions” stem from anticipatory images, but some are more sense involving intentions and, cases, deliberation about intentions. argues most fundamentally distinguished T. H. Huxley’s sensorimotor approach was latter conceived action terms complex cerebral reflex connecting stimulus with response. On model, not all actions can be traced back to prior stimuli without remainder, because two factors such include endogenously generated images subjective interests; neither these simply “picked up” stimuli. concludes reflecting on implications role play (on view) for evolution itself.

Language: Английский

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Primary Sources

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

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Will

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract If I raise my hand, experience arm rising; do also myself raising arm? This chapter examines William James’s empirically informed attack on the idea that we our own tryings. A debate about this was raging in late nineteenth century. James recruited observations of patients with paralysis, paresis, and kinaesthetic deficits (including famous Landry case) to argue have no outflowing (efferent) nerves trigger muscular contraction. The feeling effort always stems from inflowing (afferent) coming just-contracted muscles, for James. uses afference theory flesh out his sophisticated model action induction motor control. cornerstone is what he called a “general law,” every conscious state naturally triggers some physiological change or other. No special trying needed translate any thought into bodily change, His control especially interesting because it proposes predictive, error-correction feedback loop which “guiding sensations” are continually compared antecedent predictions. Finally, reflects substantial role forgotten history philosophy mind.

Language: Английский

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Postscript

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract This postscript connects James’s pragmatic maxim—which accounts for an idea’s meaning in terms of the “conduct it is fitted to produce”—with his physiological and psychological work on volition, action, consciousness. The maxim provides a future-directed, causal account according which idea intended target action sequence. briefly considers how view can misrepresentation, problem with more traditional theories have struggled. If reading this correct, then pragmatist philosophy naturalistic sense being built model mind that itself fundamentally structured by empirical evidence from experiment clinical observation.

Language: Английский

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Huxley

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract This chapter examines the 1870s automatism controversy with a focus on T.H. Huxley. It reconstructs his central argument for epiphenomenalism, favored form of automatism. His depended mechanistic idea that physiological explanation should only appeal to physical and chemical causes. Huxley supported plausibility this program by appealing purposive behavior in decapitated frogs, creatures he took be unconscious. In contrast, anti-automatist opponents like G. H. Lewes had premised their arguments rival interpretation frog experiments according which such retain sentience. When two sides stalemated, one cause was an inability resolve interpretations these experiments. uses nineteenth-century dispute over frogs develop philosophical analysis so-called measurement problem, is problem determining empirically whether given creature conscious.

Language: Английский

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Introduction

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract This chapter provides a synoptic overview of James’s accounts consciousness and action, laying out the guiding questions these were designed to address. The also summarizes motivates overall project Consciousness Is Motor. Klein contends that James conceived as Darwinian adaptation for behavior regulation, function it purportedly accomplishes by enabling valuation objects actions. ideo-motor theory action functional model how valuating this on Klein’s reading. likens unique method blending first- third-person data weaving warp weft threads into tapestry. Generations readers have been so seduced colorful weft—his introspective description—that they failed understand way drawn from animal experimentation clinical observation structure fabric. offers preliminary reflections terminology often used characterize experience, today, including “phenomenal consciousness” “qualia.” former term fits work only awkwardly, while latter is himself pioneered.

Language: Английский

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Pflüger & Lewes

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract This chapter examines experimental work by Eduard Pflüger, G. H. Lewes, and others that sought to establish sentience volition in spinal frogs. It situates their as part of a broader older dispute tracing back Descartes over the limits purely mechanistic (roughly: physio-chemical) explanation physiology. The outlines Lewes’s vitalist emergentism, which he advanced naturalistic alternative neo-Cartesian mechanisms. on vertebrates is shown lend support this program. also offers an initial sketch “measurement problem,” these nineteenth-century experimentalists faced nonhuman animal consciousness. Many experiments relied third-person accessible, behavioral criteria for determining whether creature given condition or not conscious. measurement problem concerns inherent difficulty providing any rational grounds such criteria. Lewes had clever argument overcoming problem, but open fundamental objections.

Language: Английский

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James’s Methodology

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract This chapter discusses William James’ accounts of the three central methods to be employed in physiological psychology. These include introspective, experimental, and comparative methods. The provides a reading James’s model introspection, with special attention his views on nature representation (intentionality) objectivity. On model, introspection can only target prior (just-passed) mental states; is matter having capacity intervene an object. aims correct common misreading according which James denigrated all but introspective In fact, held that have fruitful role play psychological investigation when conducted properly; aim at objectivity sense researcher should try minimize genuine gap between appearance reality.

Language: Английский

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