Awareness may be existence as well as (higher-order) thought
Behavioral and Brain Sciences April 1, 2000 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x00452428 (opens in new tab)
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsciousness is assigned the functions of reflection, planning, and error-correction, but a neuropsychologically grounded cybernetic theory offers a broader view: it constructs goals and plans, alters the valence of goal-related phenomena, registers error-signals, and explores unexpected circumstances by reconfiguring goals and plans. Consciousness also plays a fundamental ontological role, conferring the status of 'discriminable object' on select aspects of otherwise indeterminate being.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Proposes that consciousness constructs goals and plans, alters valence, registers errors, explores unexpected circumstances, and ontologically confers discriminable object status on aspects of being. |
Abstract
Rolls attributes to consciousness the functions of reflection, planning, and error-correction. Neuropsychologically grounded cybernetic theory provides an analogous, broader conceptualization: consciousness constructs goals (and plans), alters the valence of goal-related phenomena, registers error-signals, and explores unexpected circumstances (reconfiguring goals and plans as necessary). Consciousness plays a fundamental unrecognized ontological role, as well, conferring the status of “discriminable object” on select aspects of otherwise indeterminate “being.”