The Unique Relationship Between Consciousness and Its Bearer
What kind of being must exist for consciousness to exist? On this episode, hosts Robert J. Marks and Angus Menuge conclude their discussion with Dr. Mihretu Guta about his contribution to the recent volume Minding the Brain. The first half of this conversation centered on the amazing nature of consciousness and how it really doesn’t reduce to anything physical. In Part 2, the focus turns to the unique relationship between consciousness and the bearer of consciousness. The idea that consciousness cannot exist independently of the person or entity experiencing it poses challenges for standard philosophical views of properties, such as Platonism and Aristotelianism, which struggle to account for the individual, non-shareable nature of consciousness. Dr. Guta emphasizes the need to investigate consciousness on its own terms, rather than forcing it into preconceived metaphysical frameworks. He also calls for greater collaboration between philosophers and scientists to make progress in understanding the nature of consciousness.
