The Re–Enchantment with the Buddhist Perspective on Phenomenal Consciousness in the Contemporary Philosophy of Mind

Buddhist philosophy offers a systematic account of phenomenal consciousness through the scheme of the five aggregates (Pancha-skandha), where consciousness arises only in dependence on physical and mental factors. This conditioned, interdependent relationship between consciousness and mind-body (nama-rupa) means there is an unbroken series of consciousnesses without any arising without conditions. The paper argues that this Buddhist perspective not only challenges the possibility of a complete scientific explanation of phenomenal conscious experience but also provides philosophical grounds for affirming the existence of such experience.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The present paper is concerned with a qualitative, analytical, and comparative method of exploring Buddhist perspectives on phenomenal consciousness. The phenomenal consciousness sciences have offered a mechanical explanation of the ‘how’ and ‘what’ of consciousness, but have failed to explain the ‘why’ of consciousness. The Buddhists have given a systematic explanation of conscious experience in Pancha–skandha, and it is in relation to the material world. In this scheme of things, consciousness is overly conditioned and arises from an interaction with other factors (physical or mental). Consciousness, in turn, influences one or more mental factors. Thus, consciousness and the mind–body (nama– rupa) are interdependent: there is no arising of consciousness without conditions. This is to say that there is an unbroken series of consciousnesses. I would like to demonstrate that the Buddhist notion of phenomenal consciousness not only goes against the possibility of a scientific explanation of phenomenal conscious experience but also establishes the philosophical grounds for the existence of a phenomenal conscious experience.