Bruce Bridgeman (1992) On Defining Consciousness:. Psycoloquy: 3(37) Consciousness (19)
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PSYCOLOQUY (ISSN 1055-0143) is sponsored by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Psycoloquy 3(37): On Defining Consciousness:
ON DEFINING CONSCIOUSNESS:
Reply to Wasserman on Bridgeman
Bruce Bridgeman
Dept. of Psychology
Kerr Hall UCSC
Santa Cruz, Ca. 95064
(408) 459-4005
bruceb@cats.ucsc.edu
Abstract
Just about everything that Wasserman (1992) says is
important and accurate. Perhaps, following Wasserman's strategic
advice, the best course at present is to concentrate on tracking
down plans in the hope that this leads eventually to the several
forms of consciousness.
Keywords
consciousness, language, plans, motivation, evolution,
motor system
1.1 This will be another short reply because just about everything
that Wasserman (1992) says is important and accurate. If we are to make
progress in understanding consciousness, it is essential that empirical
research be undertaken. But how are we to move forward in finding the
roots of consciousness? We cannot rely on the comparative method as
much as we have with other brain operations, because only humans
possess some of the capabilities in question.
1.2 Neural research will succeed only if we know what we are looking
for. If consciousness is essentially involved with the plan-executing
apparatus, we have a place to start. Perhaps, following Wasserman's
strategic advice, the best course at present is to concentrate on
tracking down plans -- their organization, their neurological
substrates, and the memory systems that support them -- and to hope that
the effort leads eventually to the several forms of consciousness. If
consciousness is the articulation of plans, the effort may not be as
indirect as it seems.
REFERENCE
Wasserman, Gerald S. (1992) Essentialism and Consciousness: Commentary
on Bridgeman on Consciousness. PSYCOLOQUY 3(36) consciousness.18
Volume: 3 (next, prev) Issue: 37 (next, prev) Article: 19 (next prev first) Alternate versions: ASCII Summary