Gradualism and the Evolution of Experience
Peter Godfrey‐Smith
Abstract
In evolution, large-scale changes that involve the origin of complex new traits occur gradually, in a broad sense of the term. This principle applies to the origin of subjective or felt experience. I respond to difficulties that have been raised for a gradualist view in this area, and sketch a scenario for the gradual evolution of subjective experience, drawing on recent research into early nervous system evolution.
Topics & Concepts
GradualismSketchTerm (time)Scale (ratio)Cognitive sciencePsychologyCognitive psychologyEpistemologyPhilosophyPaleontologyComputer scienceGeologyGeographyCartographyPhysicsAlgorithmQuantum mechanicsNeural dynamics and brain functionEmbodied and Extended CognitionPhilosophy and Theoretical Science