Stability is not intrinsic

A pure vehicle theory of the contents of consciousness is not possible. Whi le it is true that hard-wired tacit representations are insufficient as con tent vehicles, not all tacit representations are hardwired. O'Brien & Opie' s definition of stability for patterns of neural activation is not well-mot ivated and too simplistic. We disagree in particular with the assumption th at stability in a network is purely intrinsic to that network. Many complex forms of stability in a network are apparent only when interpreted by some thing external to that network. The requirement for interpretation introduc es a necessary functional element into the theory of the contents of consci ousness, suggesting that a pure vehicle theory of those contents will not s ucceed.