Easy vs hard problem

Question 1

Easy problem

Answer 1

Still very difficult, but we sort of see the solution lying ahead

We understand partcially how it works, eg
- Ability to discriminate, react to stimuli
- Integrating information
- Focusing attention
- Deliberate control

Question 2

Hard problem

Answer 2

Explaining why those processes come with conscious experience, why not in the dark

The way we look, feel, sound etc feels private, intrinsic, ineffable. Eg qualia, how we see a color

What is it like to be a bat. The mind body problem

Question 3

Explanatory gap

Answer 3

Explaining the function does not explain the experience

We can explain the function of how we see color, but you can’t explain seeing red/yellow/etc

Question 4

Qualia

Answer 4

The way we experience something. We can’t explain it. The feeling of being conscious.

Question 5

Philosophical zombies

Answer 5

Possibility created by the hard problem. Functionally identical to humans, but they have no qualia/experience. We’d never know

Daniel dennet has very strict position, all we associate w consciousness is about reactive dispositions. Thats what makes our consciousness

Question 6

Thought experiments

Answer 6

Mary the super color scientist
= If Mary knows everything there is about color, but has never seen color. Does she learn something new if she actually sees color

Inverted spectrum
= How can we know that what i see as red looks like your red

Question 7

Not so hard problem

Answer 7

Imposible to deal with hard problem within materialism

Dual aspect theory of informationn
- Where informtaion automatically is accompanied by experience. Info processing = consciousness, iike matter is energy

Milder version is phenomenal (P, raw experience like seeing/hearing) and access (A, reflecting on experience, knowing etc) consciousness