HEADQUARTERS WITHOUT OPERATOR AND NONREDUCED IDENTITY: D. DENNETT AND D. SEARLE ON CONSCIOUSNESS

Abstract

The article deals with two approaches to consciousness: D. Dennet’s reductive theory which demonstrates excessiveness of the term ‘consciousness’ to the results of neurophysiological research and the opposite one - D. Searle’s theory which considers conscious layer of experience as ontologically indespensable. Proceeding from the authors’ theoretical premises a conclusion is made that self-consciousness possesses both ethical and social meanings and may be considered as a further development of the two critical views.