A Critique on the Qualia Denial: A Study of Dennett’s View

Subject Areas : Philosophy

Abolqasem Hashemi ¹ , Ahmadreza Hemmati Moghaddam ²

1 - PhD in Philosophy of Science, Department of Law, Theology & Political Sciences, Tehran branch of Science & Research, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Department of Law, Theology and Political Science, Tehran Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2021-03-19 Accepted : 2021-03-19 Published : 2021-02-19

Keywords: Mental Qualities, Phenomenal Character, Qualia, Intuition Pump,

Abstract :

Mental qualities, in the minimal and intuitive concept, is intrinsic and phenomenal characters of experience called “qualia”. Perceptual states, bodily sensation, emotional states, and quasi-perceptual states are usually considered as examples of mental states that are included qualia. Daniel Dennett, an American philosopher, denies the existence of qualia using the intuition pump designed by him. His view is known as “Reductionism of Qualia”. In these tests, Dennett calls history of qualia into question and reveals the contradictions that may exist in qualia. In contrast to Dennett, philosophers such as Tye, unlike Dennett, argues that reverse quality is possible to exist and William Webb considers the technological advances as the cause of empirical confirmation of qualia reverse. In the end, a third perspective is formulated by the authors to Dennett’s arguments according to which every conscious experience has characters which may be specific to a person: Characters that are necessary to a complete explanation of a phenomenon.