Perhaps, conscious states are higher-level thoughts about lower-level states {higher-order thought theory, functionalism} {HOT theory} {higher order monitoring theory}. Perhaps, conscious states are mental states about which people have higher-level beliefs that people have mental states. Higher-order thought is a representational theory.
process
Perceptions do not have intentions, but thoughts have intentions. Consciousness can link current perceptions in occipital and other lobes to concepts, emotions, plans, memories and values in frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. Only mental states can be conscious. People can be, but are not typically, conscious of beliefs. Perceptions can be non-conscious.
types
When perceiving or emoting, people can have thoughts that they are perceiving or emoting, and thoughts bring experience {actualist higher-order thought theory}. Thoughts can happen at same time as perceptions or can be about memories. People have higher-order thoughts, and some perceptions and emotions are available for use {dispositionalist higher-order thought theory}. Percepts can be both first-order and higher-order {dual-content theory}. Higher-order thought system can use information, and such uses determine experience {inferential-role semantics} {consumer semantics}. Semantics can be only about input information and symbol grounding {informational semantics} {input-side semantics}.
problems
Conscious states can have no thought [Rosenthal, 1991].
Social Sciences>Philosophy>Mind>Theories>Functionalism
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Date Modified: 2022.0224