Rovelli, Carlo and Ismael, Jenann (2025) A response to Mary. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Frank Jackson raised a formidable challenge against physicalism, in the form of a fable: Mary comprehends the physics of color vision but has never seen red; when she does, she learns what red looks like. Hence there is knowledge that transcends what is accessible from a purely third-person perspective. We point out that this can be true without contradicting physicalism. The solution of the apparent paradox is to notice that physicalism implies that knowledge must be physically realized. In turn, this implies the existence of (physical) reflexive knowledge, distinct from the knowledge obtained from a third-person perspective.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Rovelli, Carlo rovelli.carlo@gmail.com 0000-0003-1724-9737 Ismael, Jenann jismael1@jhu.edu 0000-0002-3854-2898
Keywords:	Knowledge Argument, Qualia, Physicalism, Mary.
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Consciousness Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Learning and Memory General Issues > Thought Experiments
Depositing User:	Carlo Rovelli
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2025 13:52
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2025 13:52
Item ID:	24523
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Consciousness Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Learning and Memory General Issues > Thought Experiments
Date:	11 January 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24523

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