Philosophy 575 Prof. Clare Batty Qualia Jackson, “Epiphenomenal Qualia” Physicalism: all the facts about the world are physical facts. 1. The Knowledge Argument Jackson argues that physicalism is false. The story: “Mary is a brilliant scientist…forced to investigate the world from a black and white room via a black and white monitor.” She “specializes in the neurophysiology of vision and acquires, let us suppose, all the physical information there is to obtain about what goes on when we see ripe tomatoes, or the sky, and use terms like ‘red’, ‘blue’, and so on.” “What will happen when Mary is released from her black and white room or is given a color television monitor?” “Will she learn anything or not?” Jackson: “yes”. “It just seems obvious that she will learn something about the world and our experience of it…But she had all the physical information. Ergo…Physicalism is false” The Knowledge Argument: 1. Imprisoned Mary knows all the physical facts. 2. If physicalism is true, Mary (before her release) knows all the facts. (from 1 + physicalism) 3. After her release, Mary learns something–something she couldn’t have known while imprisoned. 4. If Mary learns something, she learns a fact. 5. So, Mary learns a fact. (from 3, 4) 6. So, physicalism is false. (from 2, 5) Further conclusion: 7. Our experiences have “qualia”. Qualia are “certain [nonphysical] features of bodily sensations [and] perceptual experiences...the hurtfulness of pains, the itchiness of itches [etc.]” 2. The Modal Argument (The Zombie Argument) 1. It is possible that there be zombies. 2. If it is possible that there be zombies, then consciousness is nonphysical. 3. So, consciousness is nonphysical 3. Epiphenomenalism Something is epiphenomenal if and only if it does not function causally in the world. Some philosophers argue that the qualia freak’s position is untenable because it leaves qualia as epiphenomenal. 1 This is taken to be bad because: i. “It is supposed to be just obvious that the hurtfulness of pain is partly responsible for the subject seeking to avoid pain…”. (But is it?) ii. Darwin’s theory of evolution. (How does Jackson respond?) iii. Knowledge of other minds. (How does Jackson respond?) Are Jackson’s responses adequate? If not, why not? 2 .