phenomenal consciousness

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

The subjective, experiential dimension of mental states — the 'what-it-is-like' aspect of experience that gives our inner life its felt, qualitative character; contrasted with access consciousness, which concerns the cognitive availability of information for reasoning and report

History and origin

Phenomenal from Greek phainomenon (that which appears); the distinction between phenomenal and access consciousness was formalised by philosopher Ned Block in 1995

Examples

• Phenomenal consciousness is what makes the taste of chocolate more than just information processing.
• Some theorists hold that phenomenal consciousness is entirely distinct from the functional processes of cognition.

Synonyms: P-consciousness (Block), subjective experience, qualia-bearing states