In Catch-22, Joseph Heller shows his ethical concern behind absurdity, which is manifested from his attitude toward individualism and utilitarianism, religious belief, sexual promiscuity, interpersonal relationship, etc.
In this article I will confront Antonio Damasio＇s theory （exposed in his last book Self Comes to Mind） with the criticism it received from Ned Block. The latter holds that Damasio does not distinguish the concepts ...In this article I will confront Antonio Damasio＇s theory （exposed in his last book Self Comes to Mind） with the criticism it received from Ned Block. The latter holds that Damasio does not distinguish the concepts of phenomenal consciousness and self-consciousness and this has two kinds of consequences. One is that it cannot satisfactorily explain certain mental states （dreams, vegetative states）; the other is that it has harmful consequences for animal ethics. I maintain that to compare the two theories we can only rely on our pre-theoretical intuition of consciousness. Thus, I argue that Dam^tsio＇s theory combines more with our intuitions. One of the reasons is that the cases that Block describes as phenomenal consciousness without access consciousness （and without self-consciousness） are best explained as being cases of mind without consciousness. Dam^sio＇s theory can also explain those referred cases which are theoretically problematic. Moreover, Dam^isio has a threshold model （an expression by Barry Dainton）, which is something that Block seems to ignore. This model fits well with the intuitions and neurological knowledge that we normally have on animal consciousness. Dam^isio＇s core self and his theory of emotions and feelings allow us to understand why we feel compassion for animals. Therefore, we are able to develop an animal ethics, which does not mean that we are required to do so. So even though Damasio does not solve the mystery of consciousness, he should not be the subject of Block＇s criticism.展开更多
The male writers＇ intuitive gift and superb insight describe feminine characters, feminine nature, femaleness, and femininity. In the 19th century, the study of the character logical portrait and cultural traits asso...The male writers＇ intuitive gift and superb insight describe feminine characters, feminine nature, femaleness, and femininity. In the 19th century, the study of the character logical portrait and cultural traits associated with femininity enunciated feminists＇ discourse to justify vindication of rights as regards women＇s cultural anxiety, political identification, and aesthetic experimentation. Similarly, the women writers＇ imaginative powers characterize women＇s emotions either reflecting shrinking subjectivity or elaborating notion of voluntary subjectivity as regards their experiences and existence, their passions and sensations, and their self and life. The 20th century women＇s writings raised inquiry against presentation of gendered self, performance of gender, gender discontent as regards with their sex and gender, which are assigned at birth as well as also for the alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity, and gender roles. In this paper, the study of the four selected novels such as The Scarlet Letter, Tess of the D ＇Urbervilles, Emma, Surfacing, and Inner Line shows how circumstances, strata of time, and externalities of others objectify woman and her domestic space; how a woman perceives her deprivation as regards her own image which seems nobody to herself due to the sense of low perception; in what way sexual difference and gender-specific practices and ideology enforce woman to chide herself in the given environment and surroundings of legal codifications, moral prescriptions, and medical prognostications. The analyses of the novels draw how woman＇s experience as living subject in the vital dimension of human existence and utopian image of human fellowship is potentially undone by way of sexual exploitation, dismemberment, and embodiment. What kind of vulnerable moments force woman to withdraw from her body and fi＇om her essence is the center of concern in this paper？ While discussing the feminists＇ culture and ethics in their works, the focus is on the essentialized notion of gender-specific discrimination as well as on the frustrating double-consciousness that characterizes the cultural position of the other.展开更多
文摘In Catch-22, Joseph Heller shows his ethical concern behind absurdity, which is manifested from his attitude toward individualism and utilitarianism, religious belief, sexual promiscuity, interpersonal relationship, etc.
文摘In this article I will confront Antonio Damasio＇s theory （exposed in his last book Self Comes to Mind） with the criticism it received from Ned Block. The latter holds that Damasio does not distinguish the concepts of phenomenal consciousness and self-consciousness and this has two kinds of consequences. One is that it cannot satisfactorily explain certain mental states （dreams, vegetative states）; the other is that it has harmful consequences for animal ethics. I maintain that to compare the two theories we can only rely on our pre-theoretical intuition of consciousness. Thus, I argue that Dam^tsio＇s theory combines more with our intuitions. One of the reasons is that the cases that Block describes as phenomenal consciousness without access consciousness （and without self-consciousness） are best explained as being cases of mind without consciousness. Dam^sio＇s theory can also explain those referred cases which are theoretically problematic. Moreover, Dam^isio has a threshold model （an expression by Barry Dainton）, which is something that Block seems to ignore. This model fits well with the intuitions and neurological knowledge that we normally have on animal consciousness. Dam^isio＇s core self and his theory of emotions and feelings allow us to understand why we feel compassion for animals. Therefore, we are able to develop an animal ethics, which does not mean that we are required to do so. So even though Damasio does not solve the mystery of consciousness, he should not be the subject of Block＇s criticism.
文摘The male writers＇ intuitive gift and superb insight describe feminine characters, feminine nature, femaleness, and femininity. In the 19th century, the study of the character logical portrait and cultural traits associated with femininity enunciated feminists＇ discourse to justify vindication of rights as regards women＇s cultural anxiety, political identification, and aesthetic experimentation. Similarly, the women writers＇ imaginative powers characterize women＇s emotions either reflecting shrinking subjectivity or elaborating notion of voluntary subjectivity as regards their experiences and existence, their passions and sensations, and their self and life. The 20th century women＇s writings raised inquiry against presentation of gendered self, performance of gender, gender discontent as regards with their sex and gender, which are assigned at birth as well as also for the alignment of biological sex, sexuality, gender identity, and gender roles. In this paper, the study of the four selected novels such as The Scarlet Letter, Tess of the D ＇Urbervilles, Emma, Surfacing, and Inner Line shows how circumstances, strata of time, and externalities of others objectify woman and her domestic space; how a woman perceives her deprivation as regards her own image which seems nobody to herself due to the sense of low perception; in what way sexual difference and gender-specific practices and ideology enforce woman to chide herself in the given environment and surroundings of legal codifications, moral prescriptions, and medical prognostications. The analyses of the novels draw how woman＇s experience as living subject in the vital dimension of human existence and utopian image of human fellowship is potentially undone by way of sexual exploitation, dismemberment, and embodiment. What kind of vulnerable moments force woman to withdraw from her body and fi＇om her essence is the center of concern in this paper？ While discussing the feminists＇ culture and ethics in their works, the focus is on the essentialized notion of gender-specific discrimination as well as on the frustrating double-consciousness that characterizes the cultural position of the other.
