Conscious Emotion in a Dynamic System

A dynamic model of brain mechanisms of consciousness and emotion offers more comprehensive and coherent solutions than the traditional Cartesian model to many traditional puzzles in philosophy of mind. One of these is self-awareness: how is it possible for a conscious being to be reflexively aware of its own consciousness? In this chapter I discuss specific ways this question can be treated using a dynamic model. The discussion has two parts. First, I propose, in general terms, a way in which familiar aspects of conscious emotional states can be viewed as elements of a dynamical system. Second, I show how, on this model, one can be consciously aware of one’s own emotions.