Full Idea
I claim that only a being that could have conscious intentional states could have intentional states at all, and every unconscious intentional state is at least potentially conscious.
Clarification
Intentional states are those which have content, which are 'about' something
Gist of Idea
Consciousness is essential and basic to intentionality
Source
John Searle (The Rediscovery of the Mind [1992], Ch. 6.I.5)
Book Reference
Searle,John R.: 'The Rediscovery of the Mind' [MIT 1999], p.132
A Reaction
The alternative to this is that robots and lower animals might have non-conscious states which are about something, because they process useful information but are unaware of it. If so, parts of the human mind might do the same, as in blindsight.
Related Idea
Idea 2978 Consciousness no longer seems essential to intentionality [Lyons]