Some Current Controversies Concerning Consciousness
Buddhist Physicalism? August 5, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/9780197799697.003.0006
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe chapter initiates a dialogue between Indian Buddhist philosophy and contemporary theories of consciousness and cognitive development. It introduces key terms from current research and compares them with Buddhist concepts, addressing challenges in formulating a non-egological account of state consciousness. A solution is proposed using the System 1/System 2 distinction, identifying state consciousness with mental states posted to the global workspace. The "too-many-subjects" objection to physicalist theories of consciousness is considered and countered through the Buddhist two-truths doctrine.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | State consciousness can be understood non-egologically by identifying it with mental states posted to the global workspace, and the two-truths doctrine addresses the "too-many-subjects" objection. |
Abstract
Abstract This chapter begins the process of bringing the Indian Buddhist tradition’s views on the nature of consciousness into conversation with current work in the philosophy of consciousness and cognitive development. Some key terms used in current work are introduced and compared to concepts employed in Buddhist philosophy of mind. The difficulties involved in developing a non-egological formulation of state consciousness are discussed. A resolution of these difficulties is described involving the distinction between System 1 and System 2, with occurrences of state consciousness being identified as those mental states that are posted to the global workspace. And there is discussion of the “too-many-subjects” objection to a physicalist account of consciousness, with a response built around the Buddhist theory of two truths.