CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Fedorova, Mariia |
|---|---|
| Title | Phenomenal Knowledge is Objectual Knowledge |
| Summary | Phenomenal knowledge is knowledge of phenomenal properties of a conscious experience. In the thesis, I defend the view that phenomenal knowledge consists in direct acquaintance with phenomenal properties of a conscious experience. As such, phenomenal knowledge constitutes a sui generis kind of knowledge, irreducible to propositional knowledge, which can be referred to as objectual knowledge. I contend that acquaintance qualifies as knowledge insofar as it fulfils the distinguishing roles of knowledge by yielding cognitive contact with reality. The structure of my argument is as follows. In chapter 2, I argue that in its present form, the propositional view of phenomenal knowledge is implausible because of its commitment to the episodic nature of phenomenal knowledge. If phenomenal knowledge is an episode in the stream of consciousness, it cannot fulfil the distinguishing roles of knowledge. Having motivated the rejection of the propositional view phenomenal knowledge, I try to block possible propositional alternatives to our understanding of phenomenal knowledge by denying its expressibility (chapter 3). Chapter 4 attempts to vindicate the claim that acquaintance is sufficient for phenomenal knowledge. I suggest that acquaintance yields cognitive contact with reality, which I take to be a fundamental epistemic good on par with truth. As such, cognitive contact with reality can be retained in episodic memory, which allows phenomenal knowledge to fulfil the distinguishing roles of knowledge. |
| Supervisor | Crane, Tim |
| Department | Philosophy MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/fedorova_mariia.pdf |
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