David J. Chalmers

David J. Chalmers is a prominent philosopher known for his work on consciousness and the mind-body problem. He is associated with epiphenomenalism, the idea that mental states, like thoughts and feelings, arise from physical processes in the brain but do not affect physical actions. In this view, while our experiences and consciousness seem real, they are byproducts of physical processes rather than influences on them. Chalmers argues that this perspective highlights the mystery of consciousness, sparking debates about how subjective experiences relate to the physical world, emphasizing the need for a deeper understanding of both.