Sensory horizons, reality monitoring, and the higher-order nature of consciousness: A critical look.

Fleming and Michel's hypothesis about the origins of consciousness faces multiple challenges and overlooks phenomenal experience itself. While broadly agreeing with the authors' perspective, the commentators highlight these challenges and suggest that consciousness evolved to attribute subjective value, enabling organisms to care about and act upon what they sense.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Fleming and Michel’s hypothesis about the origins of consciousness not only faces multiple challenges but also overlooks phenomenal experience—the very phenomenon that needs explaining. Although we are in broad agreement with the authors’ overall perspective, we highlight challenges and suggest that consciousness evolved to attribute subjective value, enabling organisms to care about and act upon what they sense.