Reflexive theories of consciousness: a cross-cultural workshop

Reflexive Theories of Consciousness: A Cross-Cultural Workshop aims to initiate a cross-cultural dialogue between leading philosophers of mind working in Eastern and Western philosophical traditions. The focus of the workshop will be the reflexivity of consciousness. A central question in contemporary philosophy of mind concerns what marks a mental state as conscious. One answer is that it must satisfy the transitivity principle; i.e. if a state is conscious the subject of the state must be conscious of it. Some argue that this principle can only be satisfied if the mental state is reflexive; i.e. if it is, in some sense, self-aware. Others reject this view. Whether mental states are reflexive is a question that not only engages contemporary philosophers of mind but is also the focus of heated dispute amongst Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophers. Buddhist approaches to this issue have recently become the focus of productive cross-cultural research, not only in humanities but also in the cognitive sciences. This workshop will draw together leading philosophers in the cross-cultural philosophy of mind and will engage this emerging field of research. Sponsors: Australian National University & New York University Organisers: Bronwyn Finnigan, Australian National University David Chalmers, New York University, Australian National University Daniel Stoljar, Australian National University Registration and Further Information: Attendees are kindly requested to RSVP (for catering purposes). To RSVP and for further details, please contact Bronwyn Finnigan: bronwyn.finnigan@anu.edu.au or Daniel Stoljar: daniel.stoljar@anu.edu.au