Consciousness is Underived Intentionality

Abstract

Representationalists argue that phenomenal states are intentional states of a special kind. This paper offers an account of the kind of intentional state phenomenal states are: they are underived intentional states. This account of phenomenal states is equivalent to two theses: first, all possible phenomenal states are underived intentional states; second, all possible underived intentional states are phenomenal states. I clarify these claims and argue for each of them. I also address objections which touch on a range of topics, including meaning holism, concept empiricism, and the relation between introspection and phenomenal consciousness. I conclude with a brief discussion of the consequences of the proposed theory for the project of naturalizing consciousness.