On the appearance and reality of mind

Whiting, Demian

Abstract

According to what I will call the “appearance-is-reality doctrine of mind,” conscious mental states are identical to how they subjectively appear or present themselves to us in our experience of them. The doctrine has had a number of supporters but to date has not received from its proponents the comprehensive and systematic treatment that might be expected. In this paper I outline the key features of the appearance-is-reality doctrine along with the case for thinking that doctrine to be true. I also defend the doctrine from some objections. Finally, I spell out the important metaphysical and epistemological implications of the appearance-is-reality doctrine of mind.

Citation

Whiting, D. (2016). On the appearance and reality of mind. Journal of Mind and Behavior, 37(1), 47-70

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 3, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 9, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Mind and Behavior
• Print ISSN: 0271-0137
• Publisher: Institute of Mind and Behavior
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 47-70
• Keywords: Appearance, Reality, Conscious mental state, Phenomenology
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/439265
• Publisher URL: https://umaine.edu/jmb/back-issues/2016-2/vol-37-number-1-winter-2016/
• Additional Information: Copy of article published in: Journal of mind and behavior, 2016, v.37 issue 1.
• Contract Date: Jun 9, 2016