The Problem of the Rock and the Grammar of Consciousness
Disputatio May 1, 2017 DOI: 10.2478/disp-2017-0024 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Fallacy Argument complex analysis Consciousness Mental state Equivocation State computer science Attribution Order exchange Epistemology Cognitive science |
| Key points | Argues that the Problem of the Rock objection to Higher-Order theories of consciousness is invalid due to a grammatical equivocation in attributions of consciousness. |
Abstract
Abstract The “Problem of the Rock” (PoR) is a famous objection to Higher-Order (HO) theories of consciousness. According to PoR, the HO theorists’ claim that a mental state is conscious iff there is a higher-order mental state about it implies that a rock is also conscious iff there is a higher-order mental state about it. In this paper I show that this argument confuses two grammatically distinct attributions of consciousness, and that if the consequent equivocation fallacy is avoided, PoR is either a straw man argument or has an unproblematic conclusion.