The Anna Karenina Theory of the Unconscious
Neuropsychoanalysis 2011 DOI: 10.1080/15294145.2011.10773656 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 25 |
| Key points | Argues that the Anna Karenina theory is true in that many components must function for consciousness, but false in that unconsciousness types depend on consciousness types. |
Abstract
The Anna Karenina theory says: all conscious states are alike; each unconscious state is unconscious in its own way. This paper argues that many components have to function properly to produce consciousness, but failure in any one of many different ones can yield an unconscious state in different ways. In that sense the Anna Karenina theory is true. But in another respect it is false: kinds of unconsciousness depend on kinds of consciousness.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Hitting and missing on consciousness Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences September 17, 2026
- Dreaming is a conscious experience in its own right: proponents of non-cognitive and non-executive theories of dreaming suffer from a retrospective illusion of their waking extended self. Consciousness and Cognition May 30, 2025
- Neural evidence that perception is nonconceptual February 16, 2023
- Higher-order awareness, misrepresentation and function. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences May 1, 2012
Cites 4
- How can we find the neural correlate of consciousness? Trends in Neurosciences November 1, 1996
- Visual sensitivity underlying changes in visual consciousness. Current Biology August 10, 2010
- Unconscious activation of the prefrontal no-go network. Journal of Neuroscience March 17, 2010
- Levels of processing during non-conscious perception: a critical review of visual masking. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences May 29, 2007