Reconsidering the ignorabimus: du Bois-Reymond and the hard problem of consciousness.
Science in context March 1, 2020 Paolo Pecere 9 citations
Emil du Bois-Reymond's 1872 argument that science cannot explain consciousness remains relevant today. His position was rooted in an epistemological argument and a metaphysical skepticism, reacting against the speculative excesses of 19th-century German philosophy and natural science. Reconsidering his work reveals historical connections to the contemporary "hard problem of consciousness" and offers a vantage point for understanding how current open problems in consciousness studies have developed over time.