Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

177914

Mechanism and intentionality

the new world knot

Raymond J. Nelson

pp. 137-158

Abstract

Mental life presents many holistic phenomena. Gestalt perception comes to mind as does the manifold of intentions—beliefs, desires, and actions—and the fabric of linguistic meanings. In this paper I want to argue that none of these wholes resist analysis except for conscious intentional attitudes. It seems we cannot get a theoretical grasp of the difference between tacit (unconscious or preconscious) beliefs, desires, etc. and conscious feeling-laden belief. As I shall endeavor to explain, perception, unconscious attitudes, linguistic competence, and even intellectual skills accompanied by raw feeling (kinesthetic sensation at the edge of attention while typing or playing a musical instrument) are explainable in principle within the computer paradigm. Conscious attitudes alone seem not to be explainable in such terms and are perhaps absolutely holistic.

Publication details

Published in:

Otto Herbert, Tuedio James (1988) Perspectives on mind. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 137-158

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-4033-8_12

Full citation:

Nelson Raymond J. (1988) „Mechanism and intentionality: the new world knot“, In: H. Otto & J. Tuedio (eds.), Perspectives on mind, Dordrecht, Springer, 137–158.