How can phenomenal consciousness be explained from a physicalist perspective? In this paper, I will explore the “phenomenal concept strategy” as a promising approach. According to this strategy, the puzzling features of consciousness can be addressed through “phenomenal concepts,” which can be understood within a physicalist framework. However, Chalmers has presented the “master argument” against this strategy. According to this argument, proponents of the phenomenal concept strategy either fail to explain our beliefs about conscious experiences or fail to articulate phenomenal concepts within a physicalist framework. After reviewing the existing responses to the master argument, I will propose a new option: the “illusionist option,” and argue that it offers a promising avenue for further exploration.

    There is a widely accepted claim that necessary truths lack truthmakers. The (implicit) argument for this claim hinges on the ideas that necessary truths hold regardless of what exists, and that truth depends on the existence of its truthmaker. By analyzing the role of dependence in truthmaking, the claim that necessary truths cannot have truthmakers is challenged. I distinguish two senses of “dependence” and argue that necessary truths can have a “productive” kind of truthmaker. Finally, I propose an account of truthmakers for a certain class of necessary truths──metaphysical necessities──based on essentialism.

    Verbalization and artistic creation may appear to be disparate activities, but observations made about the processes and significance of each activity often reveal surprising similarities. In philosophy, R. G. Collingwood and L. Salje have systematically discussed verbalization and artistic creation from a unified framework. The purpose of this paper is to critically examine Salje’s arguments, which seek to both inherit and expand Collingwood’s project, to explore the causes of the difficulties common to both activities and whether there is a hierarchy among the media used for expression. Finally, based on the findings of this exploration, I will briefly offer my views on the pros and cons of verbalization, which are sometimes a subject of concern.