---
abstract: 'Many of the arguments about how to address the hard versus the easy questions of consciousness put by Chalmers (1995) are similar to ones I have developed in Velmans (1991a,b; 1993a). This includes the multiplicity of mind/body problems, the limits of functional explanation, the need for a nonreductionist approach, and the notion that consciousness may be related to neural/physical representation via a dual-aspect theory of information. But there are also differences. Unlike Chalmers I argue for the use of neutral information processing language for functional accounts rather than the term "awareness." I do not agree that functional equivalence cannot be extricated from phenomenal equivalence, and suggest a hypothetical experiment for doing so - using a cortical implant for blindsight. I argue that not all information has phenomenal accompaniments, and introduce a different form of dual-aspect theory involving "psychological complementarity." I also suggest that the hard problem posed by "qualia" has its origin in a misdescription of everyday experience implicit in dualism.'
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chapter: ~
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commref: 'Commentary on Chalmers, D.(1995) Facing up to the problem of consciousness, JCS, 2(3), 200-219'
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creators_name:
  - family: Velmans
    given: Max
    honourific: ''
    lineage: ''
date: 1995
date_type: published
datestamp: 1998-03-13
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dir: disk0/00/00/02/46
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keywords: 'consciousness, Chalmers, dualism, reductionism, mind/body problem, dual-aspect, information, functionalism, complementarity, blindsight, cortical implant, qualia'
lastmod: 2011-03-11 08:53:46
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number: 3
pagerange: 255-265
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publication: Journal of Consciousness Studies
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rev_number: 8
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status_changed: 2007-09-12 16:26:02
subjects:
  - cog-psy
  - phil-epist
  - phil-mind
  - phil-sci
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title: The Relation of Consciousness to the Material World
type: journalp
userid: 156
volume: 2
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