Full Idea
In the higher-order thought theory of consciousness, if the first-order thought is not itself conscious and the second-order thought is not itself conscious, then there seems to be no consciousness of the first-level content present at all.
Gist of Idea
If neither the first-level nor the second-level is itself conscious, there seems to be no consciousness present
Source
Laurence Bonjour (A Version of Internalist Foundationalism [2003], 4.2)
Book Reference
Bonjour,L/Sosa,E: 'Epistemic Justification' [Blackwells 2003], p.67
A Reaction
A nice basic question. The only plausible answer seems to be that consciousness arises out of the combination of levels. Otherwise one of the levels is redundant, or we are facing a regress.