Higher-order theories of consciousness
Okay kiddo, let's talk about higher-order theories of consciousness.
First, let's break it down: consciousness is basically when you're aware of things around you - like the toys in your room or the fact that you're hungry. Higher-order just means that we're thinking about our own thoughts - it's like a "thinking about thinking" kind of thing.
So, higher-order theories of consciousness say that what makes us conscious is not just being aware of things around us, but also being aware that we're aware of things. It's like a loop - we're thinking about our thoughts, and that's what makes us truly conscious.
Let's use an example to help explain. Imagine you see a puppy outside. You're aware of the puppy and you can see it, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're conscious of it. However, if you think to yourself "Oh, look, there's a puppy outside and I'm aware of it", then you're using a higher-order thought because you're thinking about your own awareness of the puppy.
Basically, higher-order theories of consciousness say that our consciousness is not just about what's happening around us, but also about our own awareness of that happening.
Does that make sense, kiddo?
First, let's break it down: consciousness is basically when you're aware of things around you - like the toys in your room or the fact that you're hungry. Higher-order just means that we're thinking about our own thoughts - it's like a "thinking about thinking" kind of thing.
So, higher-order theories of consciousness say that what makes us conscious is not just being aware of things around us, but also being aware that we're aware of things. It's like a loop - we're thinking about our thoughts, and that's what makes us truly conscious.
Let's use an example to help explain. Imagine you see a puppy outside. You're aware of the puppy and you can see it, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're conscious of it. However, if you think to yourself "Oh, look, there's a puppy outside and I'm aware of it", then you're using a higher-order thought because you're thinking about your own awareness of the puppy.
Basically, higher-order theories of consciousness say that our consciousness is not just about what's happening around us, but also about our own awareness of that happening.
Does that make sense, kiddo?