Question 1

According to Velmans, "Once a given reference for the term consciousness is fixed in its diametrics, the investigation of its nature can begin, and this may in time transmute the meaning (or sense) of the term."

Accepted Answer

Velmans did not specifically state this. His work generally emphasizes understanding consciousness through psychological and philosophical perspectives, focusing on how consciousness is experienced and how it can be studied, rather than fixing its reference in "diametrics" to begin investigation.

Question 2

Velmans says, "Following the success of the brain sciences and related sciences, 20th century theories of mind in the West became increasingly materialistic." What does Velmans mean by this? Give some examples.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Velmans says, "Following the success of the...

Question 3

Explain in detail what it means to be a "property dualist." What are some criticisms of this position?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain in detail what it means to...

Question 4

Explain in detail what it means to be a "reductionist." What are some criticisms of this position?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain in detail what it means to...

Question 5

What does Velmans mean when he says, "we can say that when consciousness is present, phenomenal content (consciousness of something) is present"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does Velmans mean when he says,...

Question 6

What does Velmans mean when he says, "To avoid confusion, and to enable such research, it is important to reserve the term mind for psychological states and processes that may or may not be conscious"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does Velmans mean when he says,...

Question 7

Explain what Velmans means when he says, "To allow a clear distinction between consciousness of oneself and consciousness of things other than oneself, it makes more sense to reserve the term self-consciousness for a special form of reflexive consciousness in which the object of consciousness is the self or some aspect of the self."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what Velmans means when he says,...

Question 8

Explain what Velmans means when he says, "To achieve a genuine reduction, conscious experiences would have to be shown to be ontologically identical to their neural causes and/or correlates."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what Velmans means when he says,...

Question 9

Explain what Velmans means when he says, "Once a given reference for the term consciousness is fixed in its phenomenology, the investigation of its nature can begin, and this may in time transmute the meaning (or sense) of the term."

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain what Velmans means when he says,...

Question 10

Locke says, "a thinking intelligent being, that has reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing, in different times and places; which it does only by that consciousness which is inseparable from thinking, and, as it seems to me, essential to it." This is Locke's definition of ...

Accepted Answer

Locke's definition is of a person. He specifically mentions a thinking, intelligent being that can reflect on its own consciousness and its identity across time and space, which is what constitutes a person.

Question 11

According to Locke, "When we see, hear, smell, taste, feel, meditate, or will anything, we know that we do so. Thus it is always as to our present sensations and perceptions: and by this every one is to himself that which he calls ..."

Accepted Answer

According to Locke, each individual is to themselves what they call "self" because they are conscious of their own sensations and perceptions in the present moment.

Question 12

Locke says, "since consciousness always accompanies thinking, and it is that which makes every one to be what he calls self, and thereby distinguishes himself from all other thinking things, in this alone consists _________________, i.e. the sameness of a rational being."

Accepted Answer

Locke is discussing personal identity and how it is based on the continuity of consciousness, which distinguishes oneself from other thinking things. Substance dualism (A) is a separate concept that involves the idea that the mind and body are two distinct substances. Rational deliberation (C) and abstract entities (D) are not directly relevant to Locke's argument here.

Question 13

Locke asserts that "we see the ___________ whereof personal self consisted at one time may be varied at another, without the change of personal identity; there being no question about the same person, though the limbs which but now were a part of it, be cut off."

Accepted Answer

This statement by Locke indicates that he believes personal identity is not based on physical attributes or parts, but rather on the continuity of consciousness. Therefore, even if a person's limbs or other physical substances are changed, their personal identity remains the same as long as their consciousness remains connected.

Question 14

Locke says, "it must be allowed, that, if the same _____________ can be transferred from one thinking substance to another, it will be possible that two thinking substances may make but one person."

Accepted Answer

Locke is discussing the idea of personal identity and argues that consciousness is what defines a person, rather than physical traits or genetic makeup. In this quote, he is stating that if consciousness can be transferred from one thinking substance (i.e. person) to another, then it would be possible for two thinking substances to share the same consciousness and thus be considered one person.

Question 15

Locke asserts that if the same consciousness is preserved, whether in the same or different substances, then the _________________ is preserved.

Accepted Answer

According to Locke, personal identity is preserved if the same consciousness is preserved, even if it is in a different substance. Absolute memory and transformation are not necessarily preserved in this scenario, and triangularity is irrelevant to the discussion.

Question 16

Locke says, "For should the soul of a prince, carrying with it the consciousness of the prince's past life, enter and inform the body of a cobbler, as soon as deserted by his own soul, every one sees he would be the same ________ with the prince, accountable only for the prince's actions: but who would say it was the same ________?"

Accepted Answer

In this passage, Locke is discussing the concept of personal identity. He is arguing that personal identity is not based on the soul or spirit, but rather on the continuity of consciousness. Therefore, if a prince's soul were to enter the body of a cobbler, that cobbler would be the same person as the prince, as they would share the same consciousness and memories. However, the cobbler would not be the same man as the prince, as their physical bodies would be different.

Question 17

Locke asserts that "_______ is that conscious thinking thing-whatever substance made up of, (whether spiritual or material, simple or compounded, it matters not)-which is sensible or conscious of pleasure and pain, capable of happiness or misery, and so is concerned for itself, as far as that consciousness extends."

Accepted Answer

Locke's definition refers to the self, which he describes as a conscious entity that experiences pleasure and pain, and is concerned with its own happiness and misery. This definition does not necessarily imply a specific substance such as spiritual or material, and can apply to both.

Question 18

Locke says, "This may show us wherein personal identity consists: not in the identity of ____________, but, as I have said, in the identity of _____________."

Accepted Answer

Locke argues that personal identity is based on the continuity of consciousness, not on the sameness of substance. This means that even if the substance (such as the body or brain) changes, as long as the consciousness (the self-awareness and memory of past experiences) remains the same, the person remains the same.

Question 19

Locke says, "a thinking intelligent being, that has reason and reflection, and can consider itself as itself, the same thinking thing, in different times and places; which it does only by that consciousness which is inseparable from thinking, and, as it seems to me, essential to it." This is Locke's definition of spirit.

Accepted Answer

This is Locke's definition of "personal identity" or the "self," not spirit. He emphasizes consciousness and reflection as key to understanding personal identity across time and places.

Question 20

According to Locke, "When we see, hear, smell, taste, feel, meditate, or will anything, we know that we do so. Thus it is always as to our present sensations and perceptions: and by this every one is to himself that which he calls self."

Accepted Answer

According to Locke's philosophy, individuals know that they are experiencing sensations and perceptions, which makes them the "self" that they refer to.

Quiz 5: René Descartes Mind and Body

According to Velmans, "Once a given reference for the term consciousness is fixed in its diametrics, the investigation of its nature can begin, and this may in time transmute the meaning (or sense) of the term."

Velmans says, "Following the success of the brain sciences and related sciences, 20th century theories of mind in the West became increasingly materialistic." What does Velmans mean by this? Give some examples.

Explain in detail what it means to be a "property dualist." What are some criticisms of this position?

Explain in detail what it means to be a "reductionist." What are some criticisms of this position?

What does Velmans mean when he says, "we can say that when consciousness is present, phenomenal content (consciousness of something) is present"?

What does Velmans mean when he says, "To avoid confusion, and to enable such research, it is important to reserve the term mind for psychological states and processes that may or may not be conscious"?

Explain what Velmans means when he says, "To achieve a genuine reduction, conscious experiences would have to be shown to be ontologically identical to their neural causes and/or correlates."

Explain what Velmans means when he says, "Once a given reference for the term consciousness is fixed in its phenomenology, the investigation of its nature can begin, and this may in time transmute the meaning (or sense) of the term."

According to Locke, "When we see, hear, smell, taste, feel, meditate, or will anything, we know that we do so. Thus it is always as to our present sensations and perceptions: and by this every one is to himself that which he calls ..."

Locke says, "since consciousness always accompanies thinking, and it is that which makes every one to be what he calls self, and thereby distinguishes himself from all other thinking things, in this alone consists _________________, i.e. the sameness of a rational being."

Locke asserts that "we see the ___________ whereof personal self consisted at one time may be varied at another, without the change of personal identity; there being no question about the same person, though the limbs which but now were a part of it, be cut off."

Locke says, "it must be allowed, that, if the same _____________ can be transferred from one thinking substance to another, it will be possible that two thinking substances may make but one person."

Locke asserts that if the same consciousness is preserved, whether in the same or different substances, then the _________________ is preserved.

Locke says, "This may show us wherein personal identity consists: not in the identity of , but, as I have said, in the identity of _."

According to Locke, "When we see, hear, smell, taste, feel, meditate, or will anything, we know that we do so. Thus it is always as to our present sensations and perceptions: and by this every one is to himself that which he calls self."