 Similar replies to the rock objection are given by Van Gulick (2001) and Gennaro (2005). Both point out that a rock isn’t the kind of thing that can be incorporated into a complex mental state that involves higher-order representations, in the sort of way required by a self-representational or HOT theory. In contrast, whether actualist HOT theory can reply adequately to the rock objection will depend on whether or not there is an adequate reply to the problem considered in section 4, which challenges the actualist HOT theorist to say why targeting a mental state with a HOT about that state should cause the latter to ‘light up’ and acquire a subjective dimension or feel.