Metalinguistic Negotiations and the Problem of Consciousness

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51359/2357-9986.2025.256815

Keywords:

metalinguistic negotiation, metaphilosophy, conceptual ethics, conceptual engineering, problem of consciousness

Abstract

The proposal of metalinguistic negotiations aims to explain the functioning of several linguistic exchanges, revealing not only metalinguistic disputes disguised as literal disputes, but also revealing less obvious normative disputes. Plunkett (2015) applies this panorama to try to offer clarity to the methodology of philosophical disputes. In the first part of this work, I provide a brief introduction to the proposal for metalinguistic negotiations. In the second part, I apply the presented framework to consider some philosophical disputes regarding consciousness. More specifically, I analyze the debate about the reality of consciousness as a metalinguistic dispute regarding the notion of ‘real’. I conclude that thinking of such a debate as a metalinguistic negotiation offers interesting interpretative gains.

Author Biography

João César Ramos, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)

Bacharel e Mestre em Filosofia pela Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei, na linha de Metafísica e Mente. Doutorando em Filosofia pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, na linha de Lógica, Ciência, Mente e Linguagem.

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Published

2025-07-09

Issue

Section

Numero especial: Ética Conceitual e Engenharia Conceitual