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Full Idea
Dreaming and imagery are striking phenomenological demonstrations that the adult brain can spontaneously and intrinsically produce consciousness and meaning without any direct input from the periphery.
Gist of Idea
Dreams and imagery show the brain can generate awareness and meaning without input
Source
G Edelman / G Tononi (Consciousness: matter becomes imagination [2000], Ch.11)
Book Ref
Edelman,G/Tononi,G: 'Consciousness: how matter becomes imagination' [Penguin 2000], p.136
A Reaction
This offers some support for Searle's claim that brain's produce 'intrinsic' (rather than 'derived') intentionality. Of course, one can have a Humean impressions/ideas theory about how the raw material got there. We SEE meaning in our experiences.