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Color Realism: Toward a Solution to the "Hard Problem"

Thomas, Nigel J.T. (2001) Color Realism: Toward a Solution to the "Hard Problem". [Journal (Paginated)]

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Abstract

This article was written as a commentary on an article by Peter W. Ross entitled "The Location Problem for Color Subjectivism" [Consciousness and Cognition 10(1), 42-58 (2001)], and was published together with that article (and with other commentaries, and Ross's reply). However, it is by means essential for you to have read Ross's piece in order to understand the approach to the "hard problem" of consciousness proposed here. Ross's article defends a view called "color physicalism" or color realism that holds (simplifying somewhat) that colors are real physical properties (in typical cases, spectral reflectances of object surfaces). This is in opposition to what is probably a more widely held "subjectivist" view of color, that holds that color qualities exist only in the mind. In my commentary I suggest that a realist view of qualitative properties, such as Ross's, together with a direct, active view of perception, and a concept of "extended mind" (Clark & Chalmers, 1998) may provide the materials for a real solution to the notorious "hard problem" of consciousness. I sketch this solution in outline.

Item Type:Journal (Paginated)
Keywords:consciousness, hard problem, color, qualia, imagery, active vision
Subjects:Philosophy > Philosophy of Mind
Psychology > Perceptual Cognitive Psychology
Philosophy > Metaphysics
ID Code:3749
Deposited By: Thomas, Nigel James Treharne
Deposited On:10 Aug 2004
Last Modified:11 Mar 2011 08:55

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References in Article

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