@davidchalmers.bsky.social is right that sensory qualities will be underdetermined by math precisely because there is no *phenomenological* description of red: its ineffability rules out capture in any objective terms. By necessity there must be ineffables as basic terms of description.

Fun question! The concept of "Santa Claus" was fixed, that is its reference was perhaps(!) determined by, what the attached summary from Claude describes. So how does the referent of my concept "the taste of ginger" get determined if there's no non-conceptual taste to conceptualize?

I said earlier that most phenomenal realists agree there is no picture or theater, etc. But we don't need to posit those to be realists about experiential qualities, things which Keith comes very close to acknowledging (attachment derived from my earlier link):

I just mean what these standard definitions make it out to be, as taken from naturalism.org/philosophy/c...:

We definitely don't want to be free to do otherwise than what we ourselves determine.

naturalism.org/philosophy/c...

This paper by a dualist epiphenomenalist seems relevant to your worry. I'm not sure that brain states *cause* experiences, as she thinks, but there's obviously a close association. It could be an identity, but it might not be - yet to be determined. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

I'd suggest that illusionists like Frankish deny PC because they take qualia (phenomenality) as necessarily non-physical, hence mysterious, spooky, etc. - not naturalizable. See "Physicalism as a possible driver of illusionism" naturalism.org/philosophy/c...

Critical action to stop the coup!

You Can't Wait for Determinism to Happen

Part 2 of correcting misconceptions about determinism, in which we cover fatalism, rationality, excuses and accountability, novelty, reductionism, and authoritarianism. Be a good determinist!
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Here are some reassurances about determinism, wrongly perceived as the antithesis of agency. First of two parts, second in progress...

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Just stating the obvious here...

twc3.substack.com/p/why-you-sh...

Here's an excerpt (hope it's readable) from the conclusion of "Why qualia aren't like unicorns" with a quote from Dennett on why he thinks people resist physicalism: they want the mind to be magical.

www.naturalism.org/philosophy/c...

I've hit the big time (ha!) with the jazz tune "Swing Point Seven" now on major streaming platforms. My nom-de-stream is Tommy Tallis since there are too many damn Tom Clarks out there. More tunes to come. Btw, if anyone knows the provenance of the image on this promo package please be in touch.

Today's catch...

...of leaves. If you've not tried leaf catching you're in for a kinetic treat. Go downwind of trees shedding leaves and keep your eyes pealed for one that's been released. Track it carefully and see if you can grab it. Not easy! Got four today and touched four that escaped.