Defining consciousness The importance of non-reflective self-awareness

    Authors

    S. Gallagher

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Pragmat. Cogn.

    Keywords

    blindsight; consciousness; higher-order theories; intentionality; non-reflective self-awareness; phenomenality; Linguistics; Language & Linguistics

    Abstract

    I review the problem of how to define consciousness. I suggest that rather than continuing that debate, we should turn to phenomenological description of experience to discover the common aspects of consciousness. In this way we can say that consciousness is characterized by intentionality, phenomenality, and non-reflective self-awareness. I explore this last characteristic in detail and I argue against higher-order representational theories of consciousness, with reference to blindsight and motor control processes.

    Journal Title

    Pragmatics & Cognition

    Volume

    18

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    561

    Last Page

    569

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000290968000005

    ISSN

    0929-0907

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