Sensorama: A Phenomenalist Analysis of Spacetime and Its ContentsMichael Pelczar presents an original account of space, time and conscious experience. How does the modern scientific conception of time constrain the project of assigning the mind its proper place in nature? On the scientific conception, it makes no sense to speak of the duration of a pain, or the simultaneity of sensations occurring in different parts of the brain. Such considerations led Henri Poincaré, one of the founders of the modern conception, toconclude that consciousness does not exist in spacetime, but serves as the basic material out of which we must create the physical world. The central claim of Sensorama is that Poincaré was substantiallycorrect. The best way to reconcile the scientific conception of time with the evidence of introspection is through a phenomenalist metaphysic according to which consciousness exists in neither time nor space, but serves as a basis for the logical construction of spacetime and its contents. |
Contents
Introduction | 2 |
Space time and spacetime | 34 |
Phenomenal duration succession and change | 56 |
Phenomenal simultaneity | 69 |
The stream of consciousness | 84 |
Idealism | 112 |
Phenomenalism A first appraisal | 127 |
Radical phenomenalism | 139 |
Idealism vindicated | 160 |
The conscious self | 178 |
Intentionality | 194 |
Conclusion | 207 |
objections to relativity | 215 |
225 | |
235 | |
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Sensorama: A Phenomenalist Analysis of Spacetime and Its Contents Michael Pelczar Limited preview - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
absolutely simultaneous according actually affairs analysis appearances argument asymmetric dependence auditory experience brain Chalmers Chapter characterize conscious experience conscious mental contains coordinates Dainton described diachronically complex experiences diachronically simple experiences dualism example existence experiences belong experiences occur explain externalists flash frame of reference fundamental human experience hypothetical-stream idealism idealist imperceptible inertial frame instantiation interpretable as perceptions intrinsic properties introspection Kant laws Leibniz light metaphysics Mill Mill’s mind monads Nike Nikean noumena noumenon objects onboard clock Oscar perceive Perseid phenomenal character phenomenal duration phenomenal overlap phenomenalist phenomenally integrated phenomenological phenomenological facts phenomenological potential physical events physical things physical world physicalist pill Poincaré point-events position possible potential voyages quale qualia radical phenomenalism reason relativistic conception riences scenario sensation-conditionals sensations sequence serialist space spacetime spatial spatiotemporal station stream of consciousness succession supervene suppose temporal theory trees Twin Earth Vat Hypothesis visual cortex visual experience