The Relationship Between Illusionism and the Hard Problem of Consciousness

Masmo Pigliucci discusses the concept of illusionism in relation to the hard problem of consciousness. He argues that the specific definition of illusion and consciousness heavily influences the idea. Pigliucci refers to Daniel Dennett's metaphor of computer icons to explain the relationship between phenomenal consciousness and neural processes. He questions why the term illusion is used in this context, as computer icons are not deceptive but rather representations of underlying processes. Pigliucci suggests that if there was no genuine connection, it could be considered an illusion. He further poses the question of whether the steering wheel of a car could also be labeled as an illusion.