Alternative explanation: everyone has qualia, but some people lack the mental mechanism that makes them feel like qualia require a special metaphysical explanation. Since qualia are almost always represented as requiring such an explanation (or at least as ineffable, mysterious and elusive), these latter people don’t recognize their own qualia as that which is being talked about.
How can people lack such a mental mechanism? Either
they simply have never done the particular kind of introspection that’s needed to realize the weirdness of qualia, or
there is a correct reductive explanation for qualia, and some people’s naive intuition just happens to naturally coincide with this explanation, or
same as 2 except that the explanation is (partially or wholly) incorrect. Presumably, sufficient introspection of the right type would move these people to either 1 or 2 (edit: or to the category of people who are puzzled about qualia, of course).
I don’t have a clue about the relative prevalences of these groups, nor do I mean to make a claim about which group you personally are in.
You’ve summarized this more elegantly than I can. Let me rewrite your explanation into my slightly different terminology: “everyone has qualia sensations, but some people lack the mental mechanism that makes them feel like there are also qualia requireing a special metaphysical explanation. Since qualia are almost always represented as requiring such an explanation (or at least as ineffable, mysterious and elusive), these latter people don’t recognize their own qualiasensations as that which is being talked about.” I would agree with this rephrasing as describing my experience. I think the rephrasing is harmless, just that what I’m calling (sensation + qualia) is what you’re calling (qualia + the mental mechanism etc.)
As for how I can lack such a mental mechanism, I don’t think you’re on the right track. Taking the points in order:
I’ve done plenty of introspection. I suppose I might be doing ‘the wrong kind’, but until someone tells me how do ‘the right kind’, I doubt it.
This might be the case for me. But if it is, I don’t know what the ‘correct explanation’ is. When I introspect, I simply don’t experience anything ‘requiring a metaphysical explanation’, or that is ‘mysterious, ineffable or elusive’, to use your terminology.
I’d want to hear from someone who had actually done this before I think it’s possible.
Alternative explanation: everyone has qualia, but some people lack the mental mechanism that makes them feel like qualia require a special metaphysical explanation. Since qualia are almost always represented as requiring such an explanation (or at least as ineffable, mysterious and elusive), these latter people don’t recognize their own qualia as that which is being talked about.
How can people lack such a mental mechanism? Either
they simply have never done the particular kind of introspection that’s needed to realize the weirdness of qualia, or
there is a correct reductive explanation for qualia, and some people’s naive intuition just happens to naturally coincide with this explanation, or
same as 2 except that the explanation is (partially or wholly) incorrect. Presumably, sufficient introspection of the right type would move these people to either 1 or 2 (edit: or to the category of people who are puzzled about qualia, of course).
I don’t have a clue about the relative prevalences of these groups, nor do I mean to make a claim about which group you personally are in.
You’ve summarized this more elegantly than I can. Let me rewrite your explanation into my slightly different terminology: “everyone has
qualiasensations, but some people lack the mental mechanism that makes them feel like there are also qualia requireing a special metaphysical explanation. Since qualia are almost always represented as requiring such an explanation (or at least as ineffable, mysterious and elusive), these latter people don’t recognize their ownqualiasensations as that which is being talked about.” I would agree with this rephrasing as describing my experience. I think the rephrasing is harmless, just that what I’m calling (sensation + qualia) is what you’re calling (qualia + the mental mechanism etc.)As for how I can lack such a mental mechanism, I don’t think you’re on the right track. Taking the points in order:
I’ve done plenty of introspection. I suppose I might be doing ‘the wrong kind’, but until someone tells me how do ‘the right kind’, I doubt it.
This might be the case for me. But if it is, I don’t know what the ‘correct explanation’ is. When I introspect, I simply don’t experience anything ‘requiring a metaphysical explanation’, or that is ‘mysterious, ineffable or elusive’, to use your terminology.
I’d want to hear from someone who had actually done this before I think it’s possible.