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Many philosophers and cognitive scientists dismiss the notion of qualia,
sensory experiences that are internal to the brain. Leading opponents of
qualia (and of Indirect Realism, the philosophical position that has qualia
as a central tenet) include Michael Tye, Daniel Dennett, Paul and Patricia
Churchland, and even Frank Jackson, a former supporter. Qualiaphiles apparently
face the difficulty of establishing philosophical contact with the real when
their access to it is seen by qualiaphobes to be second-hand and, worse,
hidden behind a "veil of sensation"-a position that would slide easily into
relativism and solipsism, presenting an ethical dilemma. In The Case for Qualia,
proponents of qualia defend the indirect realist position and mount detailed
counterarguments against opposing views.
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