Kumru Akdogan
Università della Svizzera italiana
I will examine the question of whether there is a gap between the mental and physical states, and if so, what kind of gap it is and whether it can be closed through grounding. Specifically, I will explore two different accounts regarding the gap between mental and physical states. One account argues that the gap is an ordinary metaphysical gap, which can be bridged through grounding functionalism. The other account suggests that the gap is an extraordinary one and cannot be closed through any grounding theories. However, I’ll approach this discussion from a different perspective by first distinguishing between the relationship of mental and physical states and that of conscious mental states and physical states. I’ll argue that in the former case, there is an ordinary metaphysical gap, which can be closed through grounding functionalism, while in the latter case, there is neither an ordinary nor an extraordinary gap that can be closed through any grounding theory. Schaffer’s paper ”Ground Functionalism” (2021) presents the first account I examine.In the second account, we explore the perspective of Gabriel (2019), who proposes that the gap between physical and mental states is not a regular gap.
I propose a different approach, arguing that there exists a fundamental difference between mental states and physical states, and between conscious mental states and physical states. While Schaffer’s functionalism offers a solution to the gap between physical and mental states, I contend that there is no ordinary explanatory or metaphysical gap between physical and conscious mental states that requires bridging with a grounding principle. Furthermore, I argue that there are no extraordinary gaps between mental states and conscious mental states, as posited by Gabriel. I support my argument by demonstrating that it’s inconceivable for a complete description of physical fundamentalia to exist without consciousness being present, thereby refuting Gabriel’s conceivability argument.
Chair: Andreas Frenzel
Time: September 8th, 11:20-11:50
Location: SR 1.006
SOPhiA 2026 