1 Phenomenal consciousness. Phenomenal consciousness is a form of state-consciousness: it is a property which some, but not other, mental states possess. More specifically, it is the property which mental states have when it is like something to undergo them (Nagel's famous phrase, 1974).
One example of phenomenal consciousness discussed by Block is a loud noise that you do not consciously notice because you are paying attention to something else. Block is sure that you were aware of the noise (phenomenal consciousness) but just not "consciously aware" (access consciousness).
As proposed by Block in his seminal 1995 article: 'Phenomenal consciousness is experience; the phenomenally conscious aspect of a state is what it is like to be in that state. The mark of access-consciousness, by contrast, is availability for use in reasoning and rationally guiding speech and action' [2, p. 228].
Phenomenal experience might act as a mental currency of sorts, which not only endows conscious mental states with intrinsic value but also makes it possible for conscious agents to compare vastly different experiences in a common subject-centred space—a feature that readily explains the fact that consciousness is ' ...
a. A phenomenal state is a mental state that is phenomenally conscious in that there is something that it is like for the subject of that state to be in that state. Phenomenal states are states with phenomenology.
According to Block [4], there are, however, cases representing phenomenal consciousness without access—i.e. that a mental content may be experienced yet not accessed in one or all of the above meanings—a claimed phenomenon that in recent time is referred to as 'overflow'.
Dain Heer in 2000, Access Consciousness – informally called just 'Access' – is a kind of new-age thought movement originating in the US, the aim of which is “to create a world of consciousness and oneness, where everything exists and nothing is judged”.
A-Consciousness is functional, P-Consciousness is non-functional. A-Conscious states never fall into certain types, P-Conscious states do. Note that, according to Block, Machine Functionalism presupposes that there is no distinction between A and P-Consciousness.
According to Block [4], there are, however, cases representing phenomenal consciousness without access—i.e. that a mental content may be experienced yet not accessed in one or all of the above meanings—a claimed phenomenon that in recent time is referred to as 'overflow'.
phenomenon, in philosophy, any object, fact, or occurrence perceived or observed. In general, phenomena are the objects of the senses (e.g., sights and sounds) as contrasted with what is apprehended by the intellect.
A-Consciousness is functional, P-Consciousness is non-functional. A-Conscious states never fall into certain types, P-Conscious states do. Note that, according to Block, Machine Functionalism presupposes that there is no distinction between A and P-Consciousness.
The argument that epiphenomenalism is self-stultifying in the way just described rests on the premise that knowledge of a mental event requires causation by that mental event. But epiphenomenalists may reject that premise without absurdity.
This question can be relatively easy to answer: It’s the rich experience you’re having right now, comprised of the things that you see, hear, touch, and think. It is, essentially, what it feels like to be you. This includes your personal experience of how the world around you appears, along with your memories and various internal biological processes (thoughts, aches, pains). If we consider the Freudian perspective, phenomenology would include the focus on how one feels subjectively, or “introspection.”
A good example here is to recall how much effort it took when you first learned a new skill, like playing the piano or playing tennis. When first interacting with a piano or tennis racket, the experience was more “effortful” as you had to attend to many different aspects of the stimuli: the location of the piano keys and pedals or your grip on the racket and posture. Over time, these processes become more effortless, associated with a certain expertise in using the tools.
Phenomenal consciousness is the feeling of what it’s like to be you.
In these examples, the phenomenal experience of the activity changes with expertise. It began by devoting more resources to focus on the tools and how to perform appropriate actions. This evolved into requiring less focused attention on the task’s mechanical aspects but more on planning, like anticipating a special kind of backhand that would result in a winning shot or focusing on the auditory feedback that allows you to better communicate emotion through your piano-playing rather than simply executing a correct sequence of notes. Phenomenal experiences vary in many ways and are affected by context, past experiences, and immediate needs.
Looking at situations that are unpredictable or require valence judgments may help explain the informationally unique role of consciousness.
If we consider the Freudian perspective, phenomenology would include the focus on how one feels subjectively, or “introspection.”. While your subjective experience typically is quite rich and full of information, phenomenal consciousness does not “present” all the information that is processed by your nervous system.
Usually, we become aware of only relevant or important information, which means we can only report on a fraction of the information processed that supports our decisions and actions. For example, have you ever wondered if you turned off the oven or locked the door on your way out of your house? These actions have become so automatic that they require very little conscious attention, and thus they’re easily forgotten or overlooked. Indeed, if we remembered everything we see or do, we’d probably not be as efficient as we are.