Josh Weisberg

Higher-Order Theories of Consciousness

The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Consciousness July 9, 2020 Josh Weisberg

Higher-order (HO) theories of consciousness propose that a mental state becomes conscious when it is represented by another mental state—a higher-order state. Two main versions exist: higher-order perception (HOP) theory, which models this representation on perception, and higher-order thought (HOT) theory, which models it on thought. Some HO theories require active representation, while others accept a mere disposition to be represented. The goal is a reductive explanation of conscious states in terms of nonconscious higher-order representation. This chapter outlines the motivation for HO views, contrasts HOP and HOT, considers objections and empirical support, and addresses how the theory tackles the explanatory gap and the hard problem of consciousness.