Document Type : Research Paper

Author

• reza akbari

Abstract

Taking the first-person approach to the problem of consciousness, the plan of conceivability, explanatory and knowledge arguments is to show an epistemic gap in the first step and to prove a metaphysical gap in the second between mental and physical. The soundness. of these arguments shows the correctness of Chalmers task who divides the problems of consciousness into easy problems and difficult ones. Objecting the first• person approach to the problem and insisting on the third-person approach, materialism denies the soundness of these arguments. In this approach we should take the scientific researches seriously and desist from our liar intuition as a basis for theorizing mental experience. But from where does this big "should" come? This "should" shows the deontologistic aspect of materialism in the study of consciousness which is wrong in the light of reformed epistemology. If the use of scientific researches is acceptable why not religion? In the light of Islamic, Christian and Judaic sacred texts we can accept a kind of substance dualism despite lack of the exact and complete knowledge of the properties of the soul.

Keywords

• consciousness
• difficult problem
• reformed epistemology
• substance dualism
• epistemic deontologism