Reexive monism

Reexive monism is a philosophical position developed

by Max Velmans, in his book Understanding Conscious-
ness (2000), to address the problemof consciousness. It is
a modern version of an ancient viewthat the basic stu of
the universe manifests itself both physically and as con-
scious experience (a dual-aspect theory in the tradition of
Spinoza).
[1]
The argument is that the universe is psycho-
physical.
[2]
Monism is the view that the universe, at the deepest level
of analysis, is composed of one fundamental kind of stu.
This is usually contrasted with substance dualism, the
view found in the writings of Plato and Descartes that the
universe is composed of two kinds of stu, the physical
and the stu of soul, mind or consciousness.
Reexive monism maintains that, in its evolution from
some primal undierentiated state, the universe dier-
entiates into distinguishable physical entities, at least
some of which have the potential for conscious experi-
ence, such as human beings. While remaining embedded
within and dependent on the surrounding universe and
composed of the same fundamental stu, each human,
equipped with perceptual and cognitive systems, has an
individual perspective on, or view of, the rest of the uni-
verse and him or her self. In this sense, each human par-
ticipates in a process whereby the universe dierentiates
into parts and becomes conscious of itself, making the
process reexive. Donald Price and James Barrell write
that, according to reexive monism, experience and mat-
ter are two complementary sides of the same reality, and
neither can be reduced to the other. That brain states are
causes and correlates of consciousness, they write, does
not mean that they are ontologically identical to it.
[2]
A similar combination of monism and reexivity is found
in later Vedic writings such as the Upanishads.
[3]
1 References
[1] Velmans, Max. Dualism, Reductionism and Reexive
Monism, in Max Velmans and Susan Schneider (eds.).
The Blackwell Companion to Consciousness. Wiley-
Blackwell, 2007, p. 346.
Velmans, Max. Reexive Monism, Journal
of Consciousness Studies, 15(2) pp.5-50 (2008)
preprint
Hoche, H-U. Reexive monism versus comple-
mentarism: An analysis and criticism of the con-
ceptual groundwork of Max Velmanss reexive
model of consciousness, Phenomenology and the
Cognitive Sciences, 6(3) pp.389-409 (2007), doi:
10.1007/s11097-006-9045-8 preprint
[2] Price, Donald D. and Barrell, James J. Inner Experience
and Neuroscience: Merging Both Perspectives. MIT Press,
2012, p. 277.
[3] Rao, K. R. History of Science, Philosophy and Culture
in Indian Civilization Volume XVI, Part 1: Cognitive
Anomalies, Consciousness, and Yoga. New Delhi: Ma-
trix, 2011, pp. 322-323, 376-383, 766-774.
1
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