The Conscious Theory of Higher-Orderness
September 17, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/9780198924159.003.0012 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Subject documents Consciousness Mental state Order exchange State computer science Epistemology Cognitive science |
| Citations | 16 |
| Key points | Argues that higher-order theories of consciousness should be rejected in favor of 'The Ascending Road', which holds that awareness of a mental state arises because that state is conscious, not the reverse. |
Abstract
Abstract The massive debate in philosophy and psychology and neuroscience about higher-order theories of consciousness has not adequately distinguished between the following two claims: (i) (Necessary Awareness): For any conscious mental state M and subject S, if S is in M, then S is aware of M; and (ii) (The Higher-Order Theory): For any conscious mental state M and subject S, if S is in M, then M is conscious because S is aware of M. While the chapter will assume that the first claim is true, it will argue that we should reject higher-order theories of consciousness. We should turn them on their head to go with the following theory: (The Ascending Road): For any conscious mental state M and subject S, if S is in M, then S is aware of M because M is conscious.