[extropy-chat] Qualia Bet

[Brent Allsop]

Marc Geddes commented:


 > (1) Qualia are a separate substance which can 
exist independently of the material world (substance dualism)

 >

 > (2)  'Qualia' is simply a misnomer - all that 
exists are physical processes (materialism)

 >

 > (3)  'Qualia' themselves are not physical, but 
they are entirely *caused by* and *dependent on* physical

  > processes (non-reductive physicalism)

 >

 > (1) Seems to have been largely ruled out by 
modern science but options (2) and (3) are still very much

 >  alive.   Daniel Dennett would be an example 
of someone who champions (2), David Chalmers an example

 >  of someone who champions (3).

I think you should restate (2) to instead say: 
“all that exists are causal physical processes. 
(causal being all that can be observed through cause and effect detection.)

Then you can add a (4) which includes my theory 
that qualia are physical processes.  Like causal 
physical properties, qualia are also 
physical.  They are just more than simply causal 
– i.e. there is something they are phenomenally 
“like” which is ineffable to traditional cause 
and effect observation.  Also, If you say qualia 
are *caused by* and *dependent on* how is it not 
a “physical process1 or how is it different than a physical process”?


Brent Allsop