Higher-order theories of consciousness
David RosenthalHakwan LauJoseph LeDouxRichard Brown
This page delivers no verdict; it presents claims and evidence with their sources. No theory in science is absolute. Method
For everyone
According to higher-order theories, a mental state is conscious only when the mind represents that state to itself. Seeing a red apple, for example, becomes conscious only when accompanied by a higher-order representation registering "I am seeing red". The view was developed in philosophy by David Rosenthal; in neuroscience it is proposed that prefrontal regions play a role in this higher-order representation.
For specialists
The higher-order thought theory (HOT) takes the higher-order representation to be a thought, while higher-order perception theories treat it as a kind of inner perception. Neuroscientific versions rest on findings that sensory activity can be similar in conscious and unconscious perception while prefrontal activity and confidence reports differ. Phenomena such as blindsight are often discussed as examples of unconscious yet functional vision.
Claims
Positions
- First-order theories
- Suitably processed representations in sensory areas are enough for conscious experience; higher-order representation enables reporting about experience, not experience itself.[2]
Connections
Sources
- Book (2005). Consciousness and Mind. Oxford University Press
- Article (2019). Understanding the higher-order approach to consciousness. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 23(9), 754–768DOI 10.1016/j.tics.2019.06.009archive
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Cite this page
Athena contributors. (2026). Higher-order theories of consciousness. Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/yuksek-duzey-kuramlar/
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title = {Higher-order theories of consciousness},
author = {{Athena contributors}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/yuksek-duzey-kuramlar/}},
note = {Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Accessed: 2026-11-01}
}Added: September 28, 2026 · Last changed: September 28, 2026 · Page history