Routledge eBooks
March 15, 2018
Rocco J. Gennaro
43 citations
This chapter focuses on "representational theories of consciousness", which attempt to reduce consciousness to "mental representations" instead of directly to neural states. It illustrates the examples of representational theories that include first-order representationalism (FOR), which attempts to explain conscious experience primarily in terms of world-directed (or first-order) intentional...
July 6, 2017
Rocco J. Gennaro
This chapter introduces the more general problem of other minds with respect to animals. It provide a brief sketch of representationalism, which is the theory of consciousness that the higher-order thought (HOT) theory falls under in the standard taxonomy. The chapter details HOT theory and presents evidence in favor of the view that HOT theory is consistent with animal consciousness. It also...
November 18, 2011
Rocco J. Gennaro
A defense of a version of the higher-order thought (HOT) theory of consciousness with special attention to such topics as concepts and animal consciousness. Consciousness is arguably the most important area within contemporary philosophy of mind and perhaps the most puzzling aspect of the world. Despite an explosion of research from philosophers, psychologists, and scientists, attempts to...
Cambridge University Press eBooks
September 3, 2009
Rocco J. Gennaro
24 citations
This chapter discusses and elaborates upon the evidence for higher-order thoughts (or I-thoughts) in animals. It also shows that the higher-order thought (HOT) theory is indeed consistent with animal consciousness. The chapter argues that recent experimental evidence on animal memory and metacognition strongly suggests that many animals have the self-concepts and mental-state concepts necessary...
Consciousness and Cognition
June 1, 2006
Rocco J. Gennaro, Douglas J Herrmann, Michael Sarapata
We argue that analyzing everyday memory failures in terms of the "unity of consciousness" can elucidate the bases of such failures. A perfect unity amongst one's mental states is rare. In extreme cases the unity of consciousness can breakdown in dramatic fashion (e.g., in Dissociative Identity Disorder), but such breakdowns also occur in less dramatic ways that affect us in everyday life. For...
Advances in Consciousness Research
March 20, 1996
Rocco J. Gennaro
This interdisciplinary work contains the most sustained attempt at developing and defending one of the few genuine theories of consciousness. Following the lead of David Rosenthal, the author argues for the so-called 'higher-order thought theory of consciousness'. This theory holds that what makes a mental state conscious is the presence of a suitable higher-order thought directed at the mental...