On the other hand, this idea of qualia—whatever it is actually about—is a sticking point for the dualists. We should try to understand what they’re talking about instead of just asserting they’re not talking about anything.
If we can look at dualist arguments and identify the exact location of our different thinking, then we own the argument and have a chance of explaining it to them. If we only understand the problem on the level that “well, we understand the reductionist view and it doesn’t present any problems about qualia” then we don’t actually understand anything about dualism.
Otherwise the message is: dualists just need to become reductionists in order to get over their qualia problem.
Personally, I can’t relate to dualism either and I am curious about why I can’t.
Consciousness Explained does try to explain why people have the idea of qualia.
The next post Porter needs to do on this is one explicitly addressing the position Dennett sets out in Consciousness Explained. That position is certainly popular enough here on LW that I don’t see how we’re going to have a useful discussion until he makes that post. I’m disappointed that that wasn’t the conclusion he drew from the previous discussion.
On the other hand, this idea of qualia—whatever it is actually about—is a sticking point for the dualists. We should try to understand what they’re talking about instead of just asserting they’re not talking about anything.
If we can look at dualist arguments and identify the exact location of our different thinking, then we own the argument and have a chance of explaining it to them. If we only understand the problem on the level that “well, we understand the reductionist view and it doesn’t present any problems about qualia” then we don’t actually understand anything about dualism.
Otherwise the message is: dualists just need to become reductionists in order to get over their qualia problem.
Personally, I can’t relate to dualism either and I am curious about why I can’t.
Consciousness Explained does try to explain why people have the idea of qualia.
The next post Porter needs to do on this is one explicitly addressing the position Dennett sets out in Consciousness Explained. That position is certainly popular enough here on LW that I don’t see how we’re going to have a useful discussion until he makes that post. I’m disappointed that that wasn’t the conclusion he drew from the previous discussion.
That is going to be a while, he has dropped to 26 karma and is not a frequent poster.