Global Workspace Theory Emerges Unscathed
Murray Shanahan and Bernard Baars
Abstract
Our aim in this reply is to defend Global Workspace theory (GWT) from the challenge of
Block's article. We argue that Block's article relies on an outdated and imprecise
concept of access, and perpetuates a common misunderstanding of GWT that conflates the
global workspace with working memory. In the light of the relevant clarifications,
Block's conclusion turns out to be unwarranted, and the basic tenets of GWT emerge
unscathed.