Consciousness and Higher‐Order Thought
Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science January 15, 2006 DOI: 10.1002/0470018860.s00149 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe higher-order-thought hypothesis proposes that a mental state becomes conscious when one has a higher-order thought about that state, distinguishing conscious from non-conscious mental states.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that a mental state is conscious when accompanied by a higher-order thought about that state, thereby distinguishing conscious from unconscious mental states. |
Abstract
AbstractThe higher‐order‐thought hypothesis is a proposed explanation of what it is for a mental state to be a conscious state and hence of how conscious mental states differ from mental states that are not conscious.