Philosophy TV - Eric Schwitzgebel and Brie Gertler on Self Knowledge

I love this site - interesting discussions that provoke and challenge my perceptions. How cool is that? Watch the video discussion at the title link below, or download the video with the link at the end.

Eric is fairly dismissive of the importance of qualia (subjective experience) while Brie is more optimistic of its importance.

Eric Schwitzgebel and Brie Gertler

September 30th, 2010

Eric Schwitzgebel (left) and Brie Gertler (right) on introspection.

How well do we know our own minds? According to an optimistic view associated with Descartes and Locke, introspection is a reliable and profoundly special source of self-knowledge. According to a pessimistic view associated with Wittgenstein and Ryle, introspection is like ordinary perception: a confluence of fallible processes, and therefore not especially trustworthy. In this conversation, Gertler defends a version of the optimistic view, while Schwitzgebel defends a version of the pessimistic view.

Related works

by Gertler:
Self-Knowledge (2010)
“Introspecting Phenomenal States” (2001)

by Schwitzgebel:
“Introspection, What?” (forthcoming)
“The Unreliability of Naive Introspection” (2008)
Blog: The Splintered Mind

More video:
Tamar Gendler and Eric Schwitzgebel (PTV)

Podcast Video [84:09m]: Download

Tags: Philosophy TV, Eric Schwitzgebel, Brie Gertler, Self Knowledge, Philosophy, introspection, consciousness, mind, Psychology, self awareness, sensation, qualia, perception, emotions, subjectivity