Mental states have aspectual shape
A thought about water differs in aspectual shape from a thought about H2O, even though the two thoughts are about the same thing. The most we can say is that brain states have the causal capacity to produce aspectually shaped experiences.
A thought about water differs in aspectual shape from a thought about H
2O, even though the two thoughts are about the same thing.
Similarly, a belief about the morning Star differs from a belief about the evening Star, even though the two beliefs refer to Venus.
Many cognitive scientists make the mistake of characterising aspectual shape in terms of brain properties, behavioural properties, or some other third person properties.
But aspectual shape is a property of subjective mental states—there is nothing like it in the brain.
The most we can say is that brain states have the causal capacity to produce aspectually shaped experiences.
Aspectual shape: an essential property of intentional states—beliefs, desire, perceptions, etc—that stipulates that they be directed at things from a specific perspective, under some aspects and not under others.
John Searle 1990a, p.587.