Ned Block

Ned Block is a prominent philosopher known for his work in the philosophy of mind, particularly on consciousness and qualia, which are the subjective experiences of perception, like the redness of red. He critiques functionalism, the idea that mental states are defined by their roles in mental processes rather than their intrinsic qualities. Block argues that understanding consciousness requires considering both functional aspects and the unique, qualitative experiences of individuals. His thought-provoking ideas challenge us to explore how our mental experiences relate to physical processes in the brain, raising questions about mental causation and the nature of awareness.