Using Block’s Distinction Between Phenomenal and Access Consciousness to Better Understand Difficult Cases in the Grey Zone
Description
British Neuroscientist Adrian Owen documents in his book Into the Grey Zone difficult cases of patients between a state of brain death and consciousness. His team collected evidence that sug- gested patients—presumed to be brain dead—were partially or, in some cases, fully conscious. The two culturally dominant metaphysical accounts of consciousness, Cartesian dualism and eliminative physicalism, are unable to explain the presence of consciousness in Owen’s cases. To better understand the consciousness present in Owen’s cases I argue we should look to Ned Block’s distinction between phenomenal and access consciousness.
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2019-05
Agent
- Author (aut): Quint, Elana
- Thesis director: Karen, Taliaferro
- Committee member: Jeff, Watson
- Contributor (ctb): Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies
- Contributor (ctb): School of Civic & Economic Thought and Leadership
- Contributor (ctb): Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business
- Contributor (ctb): Barrett, The Honors College