as I see it
consciousness is the internaility of being
how far you want to extend this idea is a question
is all existence to be understood in terms of this
internal / external dimension?
do we say i.e. - that the inanimate has an inside -
as well as surface?
and of the status of this inside -
conscious?
do we say all the things with an outside have an inside?
you would think so
but if consciousness is this inside - it means everything
is conscious (in order to be whole) or
not everything is - some things are one-dimensional?
OK so there are issues here - ontological issues -
for the sake of the argument - let us accept this
internal / external account - and ask - its implications
for the mind-brain identity thesis -
on my view - consciousness is the inside dimension
of a human being
the physical - the body - is the external
one could argue if you take the view that consciousness
is physical - the internal / external distinction - as
a distinction of ontology - kinds of being - collapses -
(this assumes too that there is no sense to speaking
of the physical as being internal as well as external)
on the other hand - if you regard consciousness -
the internality - as qualitatively different to its
exterior - then if consciousness is a brain process -
it is the inside - of a brain process - yes the inside
it is not physical
and not observable
not public
and you could well ask - why locate it - in the brain -
does this dimension of a thing - of an entity -
have a specific location?
a specific location relative to externality?
surely it must be co-extensive?
