The boundaries and location of consciousness as identity theories deem fit

Abstract

In this paper I approach the problem of the boundaries and location of consciousness in a strictly physicalist way. I start with the debate on extended cognition, pointing to two unresolved issues: the ontological status of cognition and the fallacy of the center. I then propose using identity to single out the physical basis of consciousness. As a tentative solution, I consider Mind-Object Identity (MOI) and compare it with other identity theories of mind.

Keywords

• extended mind
• spread mind
• enactivism
• cognition
• consciousness
• mind-object identity
• identity