Suffering is bad: experiential understanding and the impossibility of intrinsically valuing suffering

Article Philosophy

Suffering as significantly disrupted agency

Jennifer Corns

Summary: This article introduces a new theory of suffering, viewing it as significantly disrupted agency, and provides a critical review and enhancement of existing theories, laying a foundation for further research.

PHILOSOPHY AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCH (2022)

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Article Philosophy

Pleasure is Goodness; Morality is Universal

Neil Sinhababu

Summary: This paper presents the Universality Argument that pleasure is goodness. It is based on a moral sense theory that analyzes moral concepts as concerned with what all should hope for, feel guilty about, and admire. The argument rejects the view that moral judgment concerns empirically inaccessible norms governing action. By invoking a standard of universal accuracy, the argument concludes that pleasure is goodness, or universal moral value, as the pleasure of all is accurate solely about pleasure.

ETHICAL THEORY AND MORAL PRACTICE (2022)

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Article Psychology, Biological

Neurophenomenal structuralism. A philosophical agenda for a structuralist neuroscience of consciousness

Holger Lyre

Summary: This paper introduces the program of neurophenomenal structuralism, which aims to develop a structuralist neuroscience of consciousness by understanding specific phenomenal experiences as relational affairs. The paper covers various topics, including neural change detection, phenomenal quality spaces, and methodological implications. It demonstrates a homomorphic mapping between self-organized neural maps and Q-structures, and proposes measurement procedures focusing on the relationships between stimuli. It also discusses the philosophical implications, such as holism about phenomenal experiences and rejecting inverted qualia scenarios.

NEUROSCIENCE OF CONSCIOUSNESS (2022)

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Article Philosophy

Empathy and the Value of Humane Understanding

Olivia Bailey

Summary: Empathy is an emotionally charged imaginative perspective-taking that plays a crucial role in interpersonal relationships. Humane understanding, as a non-instrumental value, meets people's need to be understood and has ethical significance.

PHILOSOPHY AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL RESEARCH (2022)

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Article History & Philosophy Of Science

Acquaintance, knowledge, and value

Emad H. Atiq

Summary: The author argues that perceptual experience is inherently a form of knowledge, not just a means to acquire other types of knowledge. This idea is especially beneficial in explaining intuitive appeal of certain counterfactuals and the role of acquaintance in evaluative beliefs and reasoning.

SYNTHESE (2021)

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Article History & Philosophy Of Science