Describe one theory that tries to explain the unity of consciousness and one theory that tries to explain it away. Which theory do you prefer? Why?
Sample Solution
One theory that tries to explain the unity of consciousness is the Higher-Order Thought (HOT) Theory. This theory proposes that consciousness involves the ability to think about one’s own mental states and emotions - in other words, being aware of oneself. It suggests that conscious experience is unified by a single higher-order thought which monitors current thoughts and experiences; this allows you to have a sense of self-awareness and be able to distinguish between different aspects of your mind.
One theory that attempts to explain away the unity of consciousness is the Multiple Drafts Model (MDM). This model theorizes that there are many different versions or "drafts" of conscious experience occurring at any given moment, rather than one unified stream. Each version or draft is constantly being updated based on new evidence or information coming into our minds. The drafts interact with each other until they eventually settle down into something we perceive as a consistent state of awareness.