Gerald S. Wasserman (1992) Essentialism and Consciousness:
. Psycoloquy: 3(36) Consciousness (18)
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Psycoloquy 3(36): Essentialism and Consciousness:
ESSENTIALISM AND CONSCIOUSNESS:
Commentary on Bridgeman on Consciousness
Gerald S. Wasserman
Dept. of Psychological Sciences
Purdue University
West Lafayette IN 47907-1364
codelab@psych.purdue.edu
Abstract
Brigman's idea about the evolution of consciousness is
attractive firstly because it postulates that consciousness is the
product of a seamless evolutionary path which began with
fundamental mechanisms and secondly because human language is
presented as a continuation along this path. However, the idea is
less an explanation of consciousness than it is an interpretation
of some of the essential properties of consciousness. I would urge
that our rapidly advancing knowledge of the neural mechanisms
described by Bridgeman should lead us to see them as a good place
to search for the roots of consciousness, rather than as an answer
to the problem of consciousness.
Keywords
consciousness, language, plans, motivation, evolution,
motor system
References
- Bridgeman, Bruce (1992) On the Evolution of Consciousness and Language. PSYCOLOQUY 3(15) consciousness.1