This is a short commentary on a paywalled article (Graziano, et.al., Toward a standard model of consciousness). We can only get the gist, but there are some interesting nuggets, most notably, the discinction theween i-consciousness, which is the self-awareness we actually have, and m-consciousness we think we have. Science explains the former, and at least a part of the problem of consciousness is explaining the latter. And that problem is solved (at least in part) by learning theory.
Here's Dennett: "We human beings aren't born knowing how to talk about, or direct our attention to, or discriminate...our subjective experiences. There has to be a process that is both cognitive and social that sculpts our ability to "introspect" and even as adults we can discover embarrassing gaps of "ineffability" that can be filled in with training and practice. Acquiring all those talents installs cognitive machinery in our brains that is useful not just for sharing experiences with our family and friends, but for controlling our attention in myriad ways."
Today: 8 Total: 118 [Direct link] [Share]
