Mind: A Brief Introduction (John R. Searle) / quote 136 of 138
Consciousness coordinates vast amounts of information
I will spell out the relations between consciousness and intentionality in chapter 9. For the moment, just this: one huge evolutionary advantage of human consciousness is that we can coordinate a large amount of intentionality (“information”) simultaneously in a single unified conscious field. Think of the amount of coordinated intentionality (“information processing”) when, for example, you drive to work in the morning. Don’t just think of the coordination of perception and action. (For example, I am passing the car on my right. There is a red light ahead.) Think also of the constant accessing of unconscious intentionality. (For example, I will be late for my 9:00 a.m. appointment. Where shall I have lunch? I wonder how the meetings will go.) All of these are intentionalistic representations of the world, and we cope with the world by way of these representations.