Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

205572

Our animal mind

Jan Faye

pp. 29-68

Abstract

This chapter outlines a naturalist view of the mind from simple sentient organisms to very complex self-reflective organisms like human beings. The existence of nerve cells are a biological precondition for having sensations. In general, the discussion distinguishes between sentient beings, conscious beings and self-reflective beings. The most primitive sentient beings respond generically to various sensory stimuli and behave according to some pre-established genetically inherited patterns. Later, through natural selection, more complex sentient beings evolved with the ability to present their environment in the form of "experiences." Conscious beings are organisms that are able to form concepts and think about their own experience. Therefore, conscious beings can learn from their own experiences. Finally, self-reflective beings are those organisms that know that they know and can reflect about the consequences of their behavior with respect to themselves and other beings.

Publication details

Published in:

Faye Jan (2019) How matter becomes conscious: a naturalistic theory of the mind. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.

Pages: 29-68

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-16138-5_2

Full citation:

Faye Jan (2019) Our animal mind, In: How matter becomes conscious, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 29–68.