AQA Philosophy
Metaphysics of mind
Phenomenal properties
- Minds are characterised by existing in various states or modes which are called mental states.
- Examples are feelings, thoughts, memories and perceptions.
- In analytic philosophy of mind, phenomenological means experiential.
- Phenomenal properties are properties of mental states.
- It refers to ‘what it is like’ to have or experience a mental state.
- These differentiate mental states from each other.
- E.g. the emotion of anger feels a certain way, different to pleasure. The colour blue looks a certain way, different to red.
- The differentiation of mental states in terms of what it is like to have them are their phenomenal properties.
The view that the term ‘qualia’ describes phenomenal properties
Intentional properties
- Minds are composed of mental states, like feelings, thoughts, memories, perceptions.
- Intentional properties are properties of mental states.
- They refer to the feature of some (perhaps all) mental states in that they can have a directness towards something else.
- This could be towards ourselves, other people, objects, even to broad states of the world or society.
- E.g. the emotion of anger can be (perhaps always is) directed towards some person or thing or social state.