Eliminativism About Phenomenology

Illusionism about consciousness holds that consciousness merely seems or appears to have a phenomenology, although this appearance is incorrect. On this view, the notion of phenomenology is sourced directly from introspection. It is therefore not merely introduced as a result of a conceptual error in theorizing about consciousness. This paper raises some difficulties for illusionism and argues for the latter eliminativist view. The characterization of conscious states as having a phenomenology is not one whose conceptual basis is sourced directly from introspection. Rather, it is introduced theoretically after reflection on what introspection tells us. This introduction is mistaken and the notion of phenomenology should therefore be eliminated.