Vagueness and the Evolution of Consciousness: Through the Looking Glass

Reflecting on the inception of consciousness, it is natural to suppose that there are just two alternatives. Either consciousness appeared in living beings suddenly or it appeared gradually. Unfortunately, both alternatives face deep problems. The solution to these problems lies in the realization, argues Tye, that a key element of consciousness itself was always here, as a fundamental feature of micro-reality. Varying conscious states were not, however: they appeared gradually. In Vagueness and the Evolution of Consciousness, Michael Tye explains in detail how this can be so. He also addresses questions about the location of consciousness in the brain, the causal efficacy of consciousness with respect to behavior, and the extent of consciousness in the animal world.