Consciousness and self-consciousness
Subtitle: a defense of the higher-order thought theory of consciousness
By: Rocco J. Gennaro.
Series: Advances in consciousness research ;; v. 6
Publisher: John Benjamins Pub.
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Amsterdam; Philadelphia
Language: eng
Number of pages: 220
Subjects: Consciousness; Self-consciousness; Thought and thinking; Phenomenological psychology
Description: This interdisciplinary work contains the most sustained attempt at developing and defending one of the few genuine theories of consciousness. Following the lead of David Rosenthal, the author argues for the so-called 'higher-order thought theory of consciousness'. This theory holds that what makes a mental state conscious is the presence of a suitable higher-order thought directed at the mental state.

In addition, the somewhat controversial claim that "consciousness entails self-consciousness" is vigorously defended. The approach is mostly 'analytic' in style and draws on important recent work in cognitive science, perception, artificial intelligence, neuropsychology and psychopathology. However, the book also makes extensive use of numerous Kantian insights in arguing for its main theses and, in turn, sheds historical light on Kant's theory of mind.

A detailed analysis of the relationships between (self-)consciousness, behavior, memory, intentionality, and de se attitudes are examples of the central topics to be found in this work.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [207]-215) and indexes.