Speaker: Ian Phillips (Johns Hopkins)
Ian Phillips is Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Brain Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. He is jointly appointed in the William H. Miller, III Department of Philosophy, and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. He is also Associate Principal Investigator in Chaz Firestone’sPerception & Mind Lab, and a core member of the Foundations of Mind group.
His work lies at the intersection of philosophy and the mind/brain sciences. Particular interests include perception, memory, and imagination; the scientific study of consciousness; and our experience of time. He is also currently writing an intellectual biography of the philosopher Gareth Evans
Title
On the threshold of consciousness
Abstract
In the late nineteenth century, pioneering experiments by Peirce and Jastrow overthrew the notion of a perceptual threshold. But despite their best intentions, its fall spawned a new myth: a “threshold of consciousness.” This myth fundamentally distorts our understanding of consciousness. It motivates the widespread belief amongst philosophers and scientists that our awareness is sparse and encourages the idea that powerful unconscious processes drive much of our behavior. By reassessing a series of empirical cases—from inattentional blindness, through blindsight to aphantasia—as well as background theoretical motivations, I expose and challenge these distortions. Freed from the grip of the threshold, I develop a view on which conscious experience is both rich and directly available for the control and guidance of intentional action. Consciousness is what allows us to act in the world, and through our agency we disclose our minds.
Everyone interested is welcome to attend.
The meeting will be held in English.
Participation is strongly recommended for students of the Doctoral School in Philosophy and Human Sciences and for students of the Doctoral School “The Human Mind and its Explanations: Language, Brain, and Reasoning”.
Where: Online
When: 25/02/2026 – 17:00 CET
Attendance: Attendance is free and open to all, but registration is needed by email [angelica.kaufmann@unimi.it]