Single Idea 12586

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 1. Consciousness / f. Higher-order thought]

Full Idea

I dispute the view that consciousness of a belief consists in some kind of belief that one has the belief.

Gist of Idea

Consciousness of a belief isn't a belief that one has it

Source

Christopher Peacocke (A Study of Concepts [1992], 6.2)

Book Reference

Peacocke,Christopher: 'A Study of Concepts' [MIT 1999], p.152


A Reaction

Thus if one is trying to grasp the notion of higher-order thought, it doesn't have to be just more of same but one level up. Any sensible view of the brain would suggest that one sort of activity would lead into an entirely different sort.