Phenomenal Consciousness as an Evolutionary Invention: Explaining the Positive Function of Illusionism
Filozofia February 15, 2024 Katarina Marcinčinova
The article examines illusionism, the view that phenomenal consciousness is an illusion, and focuses on the "illusion problem"—explaining why the illusion of phenomenal consciousness arises. A key part of this problem is determining the function of the illusion. Some authors suggest it is a by-product of introspection with no particular function, while others argue it played an important role in the evolution of consciousness. The article emphasizes Nicholas Humphrey's evolutionary theory of consciousness, "phenomenal surrealism," to highlight this aspect of the illusionist program.