Casa · C1 Advanced · Lesson 4 of 20 · Step 1

Philosophy of Mind

Subjunctive in Formal English

Recognise and produce subjunctive structures in formal written and spoken English
Use formulaic subjunctive expressions appropriately in academic and professional contexts
Discuss philosophical concepts using advanced formal register

Words · tap a card to see it used

Grammar

Subjunctive in formal English

The subjunctive mood is used in formal English to express wishes, demands, suggestions, and hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations. Formulaic subjunctive: 'Were it not for X, Y would…', 'Should you require assistance, please…', 'Be that as it may, the argument holds.' The mandative subjunctive follows verbs like 'insist', 'recommend', 'demand': 'They insisted that he resign' (not 'resigns'). The subjunctive 'were' is used in formal conditionals regardless of subject: 'If I were to suggest…'

Were it not for the advances in neuroscience, this debate would remain purely philosophical.

Should you require further clarification, do not hesitate to contact the department.

Be that as it may, the empirical evidence does not support the theory.

The committee recommended that the proposal be reviewed before implementation.

Exercises · type, then check

1. Complete each sentence using the appropriate subjunctive form.

1. it not for Descartes, the mind-body problem might never have been formalised.

2.The board demanded that the researcher (submit) all data for independent review.

3. you wish to pursue this line of inquiry, the library holds extensive archives.

4. that as it may, the philosophical implications remain profound.

5.It is essential that every participant (be) fully informed of the risks.

2. Choose the correct formal subjunctive form for each sentence.

1. The professor insisted that the student ___ the experiment.

2. ___ I to accept the dualist position, I would still struggle with the interaction problem.

3. It is vital that the distinction ___ clearly understood.

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Reading

The Hard Problem of Consciousness

Were it not for the philosopher David Chalmers, the distinction between 'easy' and 'hard' problems of consciousness might never have gained such prominence. In his 1995 paper, Chalmers argued that while neuroscience could explain the mechanisms of perception, memory, and attention — the 'easy' problems — it had no adequate account of why subjective experience exists at all. Should one attempt to explain consciousness purely in terms of neural activity, one would be left with what Chalmers called an 'explanatory gap'. Be that as it may, many neuroscientists insist that the hard problem is not genuinely distinct from the easy problems and that a complete account of brain function would resolve the mystery. Dualists maintain that consciousness cannot be reduced to physical processes and demand that any theory of mind account for the qualitative nature of experience. Materialists counter that were dualism correct, it would be impossible to explain how mental states interact with the physical world. The debate remains unresolved. It is perhaps essential that we accept a degree of intellectual humility: consciousness may be a phenomenon that resists the kind of reductive explanation that has proved so successful in other areas of science.

1. What distinction did David Chalmers introduce, and why is it significant?

2. What objection do materialists raise against dualism, as presented in the passage?

Speaking · say it out loud, with a partner or alone

1Debate the following motion using formal subjunctive structures where possible: 'Were artificial intelligence to achieve genuine consciousness, it should be granted legal rights.' One partner argues for, the other against.

2Discuss: What is consciousness? Should you have to define it precisely before you can study it scientifically? Use formal language throughout.

Writing

Write a formal paragraph (6–8 sentences) presenting your view on whether machines could ever be conscious. Use at least three subjunctive constructions.

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