Knowledge Tree
protophenomenal properties
Also known as: protophenomenal, micro-/protophenomenal properties, protophenomenal facts
Facts (31)
Sources
Non-physicalist Theories of Consciousness cambridge.org Dec 20, 2023 13 facts
claimIf physical structure requires intrinsic realizers to exist, then phenomenal or protophenomenal realizers would possess an essential explanatory role rather than being epiphenomenal or overdetermining.
claimPhysical properties have realizers that possess phenomenal or protophenomenal properties.
claimDispositionalists typically claim that dispositions are not merely abstract relations but are characterized by a kind of concrete power or energy, which may be intrinsic but not phenomenal or protophenomenal.
claimProtophenomenal properties are defined as intrinsic properties that are neither physical nor phenomenal, but are capable of constituting or causally producing phenomenal properties when combined appropriately.
claimEmergent panprotopsychism faces the same problem of being epiphenomenal or an overdeterminer as emergent macroconsciousness, regardless of whether the protophenomenal is conceived as known or unknown.
claimDual-aspect monists argue that phenomenal or protophenomenal properties are intrinsic.
claimPanprotopsychists who regard the nature of the protophenomenal as unknown might argue that the epistemic gap to consciousness could be closable if that nature were known, though this appeal to ignorance is often considered unconvincing.
claimPanqualityism is a version of panprotopsychism that conceives of protophenomenal properties as unexperienced qualities, a view supported by Coleman (2012).
claimPanprotopsychism can be subdivided into different types based on their specific accounts of the nature of protophenomenal properties, with some versions regarding these properties as entirely unknown.
claimPanprotopsychists who define the nature of the protophenomenal, such as panqualityists, face the same epistemic gap problem as constitutive panpsychists.
claimPhenomenal or protophenomenal properties are the only intrinsic properties known to exist.
claimDual-aspect monism is defined by the view that phenomenal properties are either fundamental or constituted by protophenomenal properties, and that physical properties are relations between or structures of these phenomenal or protophenomenal properties.
claimDual-aspect monism posits that the broad principle of physical causal closure is compatible with the theory because the principle does not specify whether causal relations or structures possess intrinsic realizers, such as phenomenal or protophenomenal ones.
The Hard Problem of Consciousness | Springer Nature Link link.springer.com 7 facts
claimThe emergence of macrophenomenal properties should be logically entailed by the nature of micro-/protophenomenal properties.
quoteDavid Chalmers defines protophenomenal properties as "special properties that are not themselves phenomenal (there is nothing it is like to have them) but that can collectively constitute phenomenal properties."
claimConstitutive panprotopsychism posits that protophenomenal properties serve as the 'raw material' of experience, functioning as 'mind-quanta' that may aggregate to form fully-fledged consciousness, analogous to how microphysical properties of quanta aggregate to form macroscopic material objects.
claimPhenomenal properties of consciousness might represent a separate ontic category obeying 'psychophysical principles' that differ from those governing physical properties, while specifying how phenomenal or protophenomenal properties depend on physical properties.
claimVon Stillfried (2018) observes that a radical interpretation of Bertrand Russell's ideas regarding protophenomenal properties might be necessary to explain direct phenomenal judgements, potentially solving problems that epiphenomenalism and interactionism cannot.
claimThe decisive requirement for Russellian panpsychism and the hard problem of consciousness is finding a logically necessary relation between physical and protophenomenal properties.
claimDavid Chalmers defines the combination problem as the lack of any logical a priori necessity of consciousness entailed by micro-/protophenomenal properties.
Panpsychism - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy plato.stanford.edu Jul 18, 2017 5 facts
claimProtophenomenal properties are defined as properties that in certain combinations transparently account for the existence of consciousness, meaning one could in principle move a priori from knowing facts about protophenomenal properties to knowing facts about phenomenal properties.
claimDaniel Stoljar (2010) argues that defining protophenomenal properties as properties that are not fundamental is too broad, because standard forms of physicalism would then be classified as forms of panprotopsychism.
claimProtophenomenal properties are properties that are not themselves forms of consciousness but which combine to give rise to forms of consciousness.
claimPanqualityism is a view of protophenomenal properties where such properties are considered unexperienced qualities, as opposed to the experienced qualities found in conscious experience like seeing color or feeling pain.
claimMysterianism is the view that humans are constitutionally incapable of forming a positive conception of the nature of protophenomenal properties.
Panpsychism - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 3 facts
perspectivePanprotopsychists believe that higher-order phenomenal properties, such as qualia, are logically entailed by protophenomenal properties.
claimProtophenomenal properties are defined as properties that logically entail phenomenal properties (a functional definition) and are themselves neither physical nor phenomenal (a negative definition).
claimAdherents of panprotopsychism believe that protophenomenal facts logically entail consciousness.
Panpsychism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy/Fall 2025 Edition) plato.stanford.edu May 23, 2001 3 facts
claimPhenomenal properties are the properties that characterize conscious experience, while protophenomenal properties are the properties involved in proto-consciousness.
claimPanqualityism posits that protophenomenal properties are unexperienced qualities that exist in basic matter, and that these qualities are only contingently experienced.
claimA more precise definition of protophenomenal properties is that they are properties which, in certain combinations, transparently account for the existence of consciousness, meaning one could in principle deduce phenomenal properties from knowledge of protophenomenal properties (Chalmers 2015; Goff 2015, 2017).