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    Higher-order thought theories (Rosenthal) demonstrate tha... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Witnessing consciousness is self-illuminating and does not require a second cognition to be known

    Higher-order thought theories (Rosenthal) demonstrate that a mental state becomes conscious only when accompanied by a suitable higher-order representation of it.

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    Reasons For

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    • 1.We can have mental states we're unaware of (e.g., subliminal perceptions), suggesting consciousness requires an additional representational layer.
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    • 2.Introspection reveals that consciousness involves thinking *about* our mental states, not merely having them.
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    • 3.HOT theory explains why we have privileged access to our conscious states while lacking access to neural processes.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.An infinite regress problem: if consciousness requires higher-order thoughts, what makes those thoughts conscious?
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    • 2.Animals appear conscious (pain responses, goal-directed behavior) without the cognitive capacity for higher-order representation.
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    • 3.We can be directly conscious of sensations without consciously thinking about them—a child's pain is conscious before meta-awareness forms.
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    Truth & Knowledge1 linkedConsciousness & Mind1 linked

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    An infinite regress problem: if consciousness requires higher-order thoughts, wh...Animals appear conscious (pain responses, goal-directed behavior) without the co...HOT theory explains why we have privileged access to our conscious states while ...Introspection reveals that consciousness involves thinking *about* our mental st...
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    We can be directly conscious of sensations without consciously thinking about th...We can have mental states we're unaware of (e.g., subliminal perceptions), sugge...Witnessing consciousness is self-illuminating and does not require a second cogn...

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