The Transcendental Argument for Universal Mineness: A Critique
Review of Philosophy and Psychology November 22, 2022 Daniel Wehinger
The paper critically examines the transcendental argument for universal mineness, which claims that phenomenal consciousness essentially involves self-consciousness in the sense of mineness—that every experience is given as mine. The author discusses the argument's potential but highlights its limitations, showing that even if successful, it cannot establish an essential connection between phenomenal consciousness and self-consciousness. Because the transcendental argument is considered the central support for universal mineness, its failure leaves the claim insufficiently substantiated, calling into question the idea that all experiences are necessarily given as mine.