Perceptual consciousness overflows cognitive access.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Philosophy of Mind
• Neuroscience

Background:

• The debate on perceptual consciousness questions whether it is rich or sparse.
• The overflow argument posits that perceptual consciousness exceeds cognitive access capacity, using 'iconic memory' as evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the controversy surrounding the overflow argument.
• To critically evaluate the conceptual and empirical challenges to the overflow argument.
• To argue against the sparse perception view.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of the overflow argument and its critiques.
• Review of empirical evidence related to perceptual capacity.
• Examination of the theoretical commitments of sparse perception proponents.

Main Results:

• Proponents of sparse perception are committed to a poorly justified generic conscious representation.
• Sparse perception theories may involve unmotivated unconscious representations that conflict with existing knowledge.
• Challenges to the overflow argument are critically assessed.

Conclusions:

• The paper argues that the sparse perception view, as currently formulated, faces significant theoretical difficulties.
• The review suggests that the rich perception view, supported by the overflow argument, remains a viable, though debated, position.
• Further research is needed to fully resolve the capacity of perceptual consciousness.