The Universality of Experiential Consciousness
Information January 17, 2019 Robert K. Logan 1 citation
Phenomenal consciousness (basic awareness and experience) applies to all living things, while access consciousness (a conceptual, verbal form used for reasoning and rational decision-making) is uniquely human. This contradicts Block's view that access consciousness also exists in some non-human organisms. The argument relies on Logan's claim that only humans possess verbal language and therefore the ability to conceptualize, which enables reasoning and rationality. Human consciousness thus combines percept-based phenomenal consciousness with concept-based access consciousness.