The world shows up for us, but, as Alva Noë contends in his latest exploration of the problem of consciousness, it doesn’t show up for free. We must show up, too, and bring along what knowledge and skills we’ve cultivated. As with a painting in a gallery, the world has no meaning—no presence to be experienced—apart from our able engagement with it.ISBN : 9780674062146

Alva Noe͏̈

Noë, Alva

Belknap Press of Harvard University Press

United States, United States of America

Cambridge, Mass, Massachusetts, 2012

1st edition, PS, 2012

First Edition, 2012

Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.

<p>The world shows up for us—it is present in our thought and perception. But, as Alva Noë contends in his latest exploration of the problem of consciousness, it doesn’t show up for free. The world is not simply available; it is achieved rather than given. As with a painting in a gallery, the world has no meaning—no presence to be experienced—apart from our able engagement with it. We must show up, too, and bring along what knowledge and skills we’ve cultivated. This means that education, skills acquisition, and technology can expand the world’s availability to us and transform our consciousness.</p>
<p>Although deeply philosophical, <i>Varieties of Presence</i> is nurtured by collaboration with scientists and artists. Cognitive science, dance, and performance art as well as Kant and Wittgenstein inform this literary and personal work of scholarship intended no less for artists and art theorists, psychologists, cognitive scientists, and anthropologists than for philosophers.</p>
<p>Noë rejects the traditional representational theory of mind and its companion internalism, dismissing outright the notion that conceptual knowledge is radically distinct from other forms of practical ability or know-how. For him, perceptual presence and thought presence are species of the same genus. Both are varieties of exploration through which we achieve contact with the world. Forceful reflections on the nature of understanding, as well as substantial examination of the perceptual experience of pictures and what they depict or model are included in this far-ranging discussion.</p>

This is a lucid and thoughtful philosophical work of interest to a broad audience beyond philosophers, including artists and art theorists, psychologists, cognitive scientists, and anthropologists. The seven essays were originally published in the periodicals Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophical Topics and Analysis or as portions of edited books. Noë (philosophy, City University of New York) has reworked them to some degree and presents them here as an integrated set of discussions on themes involving art, perception, understanding, knowledge, the activities of the mind, and human interaction with the world. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

The world shows up for us, but, as Alva Noe contends in his latest exploration of the problem of consciousness, it doesn't show up for free. We must show up, too, and bring along what knowledge and skills we've cultivated. As with a painting in a gallery, the world has no meaning-no presence to be experienced-apart from our able engagement with it.

Introduction: free presence
Conscious reference
Fragile styles
Real presence
Experience of the world in time
Presence in pictures
On over-intellectualizing the intellect
Ideology and the third realm.

2024-05-16