Is feeling pain just mindreading? Our mind-brain constructs realistic knowledge of ourselves

Carruthers claims that “our knowledge of our own attitudes results from turning our mindreading capacities upon ourselves” (target article, Abstract). This may be true in many cases. But like other constructivist claims, it fails to explain occasions when constructed knowledge is accurate, like a we...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Behavioral and brain sciences 2009-04, Vol.32 (2), p.139-140
Main Author: Baars, Bernard J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain
Metacognition
Pain
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:Carruthers claims that “our knowledge of our own attitudes results from turning our mindreading capacities upon ourselves” (target article, Abstract). This may be true in many cases. But like other constructivist claims, it fails to explain occasions when constructed knowledge is accurate, like a well-supported scientific theory. People can know their surrounding world and to some extent themselves. Accurate self-knowledge is firmly established for both somatosensory and social pain.
ISSN:0140-525X
1469-1825
DOI:10.1017/S0140525X09000569