Mental representation and consciousness

Authors

D D. Hutto, University of Hertfordshire

RIS ID

80675

Publication Details

Hutto, D. D. (2009). Mental representation and consciousness. In W. P. Banks (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Consciousness (pp. 19-32). Oxford, United Kingdom: Academic Press.

Link to publisher version (URL)

Academia.edu

Additional Publication Information

ISBN: 9780123738646

Abstract

Intentionality and consciousness are the fundamental kinds of mental phenomena. Although they are widely regarded as being entirely distinct some philosophers conjecture that they are intimately related. Prominently it has been claimed that consciousness can be best understood in terms of representational facts or properties. Representationalist theories vary in strength. At their core they seek to establish that subjective, phenomenal consciousness (of the kind that involves the having of first-personal points of view or perspectives on the world - perspectives that incorporate experiences with specific phenomenal characters) is either exhausted by, or supervenes on, capacities for mental representation. These proposals face several serious objections.