Why Should We Study Experience More Systematically: Neurophenomenology and Modern Cognitive Science
Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems October 31, 2013 Toma Strle 8 citations
Cognitive science must systematically incorporate first- and second-person methods to fully understand the human mind. The neurophenomenological program, while not solving the hard problem of consciousness ontologically, offers a methodologically sound starting point for studying experience. However, Varela's requirement of phenomenological reduction as necessary for systematic investigation is too strict. Despite challenges like training participants and selecting whom to study, taking experience seriously from these perspectives is essential, especially for phenomena involving conscious versus unconscious processing. Experiential data are also crucial for interpreting quantitative results, particularly when conclusions implicitly reference experience. Examples from decision making, such as the deliberation-without-attention effect and the cognitive reflection test, illustrate these claims.