Shadows of consciousness

the problem of phenomenal properties

Jason Costanzo

pp. 851-865

in: Glenda Satne (ed), Developmental, comparative and conceptual issues, Phenomenology and the cognitive sciences 14 (4), 2015.

Abstract

The aim of this essay is to show that phenomenal properties are contentless modes of appearances of representational properties. The essay initiates with examination of the first-person perspective of the conscious observer according to which a "reference to I" with respect to the observation of experience is determined. A distinction is then drawn between the conscious observer and experience as observed, according to which, three distinct modifications of experience are delineated. These modifications are then analyzed with respect to the content of experience and from this the ground of the distinction between phenomenal and representational properties is identified.