epiphenomenalism ↔ pleasure

Relations (1)

related 2.32 — strongly supporting 4 facts

Epiphenomenalism is related to pleasure as it characterizes pleasure as a non-causal by-product of physical attraction-causing states [1] or as an effect in consciousness resulting from neural reward systems [2]. Furthermore, the theory is evaluated by considering whether the correlation between pleasure and physical states impacts evolutionary selection {fact:3, fact:4}.

Facts (4)

Sources

Non-physicalist Theories of Consciousness cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 3 facts

claimThe argument against epiphenomenalism posits that if pain causes avoidance behavior, creatures that correlate harmful states with pain are selected for by evolution, whereas creatures that correlate harmful states with pleasure are selected against.

claimEpiphenomenalism can explain fitting correlations between conscious states and physical behavior by positing one-way psychophysical laws where pain is a by-product of avoidance-causing physical states and pleasure is a by-product of attraction-causing physical states.

claimEpiphenomenalism suggests that pain has no causal effects on behavior, implying that switching the correlations between pain/pleasure and physical states would not impact natural selection.

Resolving the evolutionary paradox of consciousness link.springer.com Springer 1 fact

quoteRobinson (2023) suggests an epiphenomenalist explanation that requires supporting the view that “[w]hat “pleasure” refers to in any possible world is the effect in consciousness of [neural events in a reward system] that contribute to continuance or repetition”.