I think smell is a bad choice of “conscious experience”, because there seems to be a direct connection between the smell sense and more instinctive parts of the brain. So it’s more “subconscious”.
Thinking about what I just wrote is perhaps a better example of a “conscious experience”.
The smell of a freshly filled nappy upon opening and the sensation of warm liquid on one’s face as the wee nipper manages to hit the bullseye once again.
That and looking at a cup (of coffee, presumably). I suspect this reveals something about the kinds of experiences we typically have. Desk experiences 🙄
Tbf my fave undergrad professor would always do “seeing this bottle of water”. Not quite as evocative, but as Weinersmith argues, maybe that’s a good thing
Haha, true, although I do think it might be the best example. A boringly common smell might communicate qualia's non-trivial dimensionality and irreducibility without extra connotations the best
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Thinking about what I just wrote is perhaps a better example of a “conscious experience”.
The taste of coffee
It is an observable illusion that leads us to believe coffee will taste differently than it does.
So, unwittingly, illusionism.
https://www.newscientist.com/lastword/mg25033333-000-why-do-some-things-like-fresh-coffee-smell-better-than-they-taste/
https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/qualia
I bet Dennett would agree!
#SMBC