Consciousness discussions in contemporary philosophy of mind: John R. Searle

In this study, John Searle's views on the philosophy of mind are used as a basis to examine the positioning of the phenomenon of consciousness and his approach of Biological Naturalism, which he presents in opposition to monism and dualism. Searle points out the failure of dualism and materialism in solving the problem of consciousness and argues that consciousness exists as a biological phenomenon in the natural world. According to him, consciousness is the key to understanding mental phenomena, and all other realities gain value only in relation to consciousness. Differing from monist and dualist theories, Searle defines consciousness as a state of the physical system that arises from micro-structural processes and occurs as macro-structural states. This approach redefines the relationship between consciousness and the brain and addresses the shortcomings of functionalism. Searle sees consciousness as a feature of advanced biological systems and emphasizes its irreducibility. This approach proposes that consciousness is a part of the biological order of the natural world. Searle also highlights the invalidity of the philosophical vocabulary used in discussing the problem of consciousness and suggests considering the existence and irreducibility of consciousness as part of science rather than Cartesian dualism. This innovative approach aims to reframe the discussions on consciousness and better understand its nature. Searle's theory offers an in-depth analysis of the consciousness and mind-body problem, inviting a reevaluation of traditional views in this field.