Eric Schwitzgebel and Brie Gertler

Eric Schwitzgebel (left) and Brie Gertler (right) on introspection.

How well do we know our own minds? According to an optimistic view associated with Descartes and Locke, introspection is a reliable and profoundly special source of self-knowledge. According to a pessimistic view associated with Wittgenstein and Ryle, introspection is like ordinary perception: a confluence of fallible processes, and therefore not especially trustworthy. In this conversation, Gertler defends a version of the optimistic view, while Schwitzgebel defends a version of the pessimistic view.

Related works

by Gertler:

Self-Knowledge (2010)

“Introspecting Phenomenal States” (2001)

by Schwitzgebel:

“Introspection, What?” (forthcoming)

“The Unreliability of Naive Introspection” (2008)

Blog: The Splintered Mind

More video:

Tamar Gendler and Eric Schwitzgebel (PTV)

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