The Hard Terminological Problem of Consciousness
Studia Humana December 1, 2019 Alexander Boldachev
The article argues that certain problems in philosophy of mind can be resolved only by adhering strictly to the logical law of identity, meaning the term "consciousness" must be used in a single, consistent sense. Defining consciousness as the space in which objects distinguished by the subject are represented, the author examines issues including the fixation of consciousness level, the relationship between consciousness and thought, the internal and external, and consciousness and the body. The reactive conception of action is shown to be insufficient for solving the hard problem of consciousness, and a shift to an active paradigm is necessary, which would reframe many questions in philosophy of mind.