Dennett famously argues that consciousness is not a "magic spark" but a Just as you don't need to understand code to use a computer folder icon, your "conscious self" is a simplified interface your brain provides so you can interact with other humans and manage your own complex internal states. Ready to dive deeper?
We are now "intelligent designers" who can consciously engineer new memes (like scientific theories or technologies). From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution o...
For most of history, cultural change was "Darwinian"—slow, mindless, and driven by trial and error. However, we have recently this process. Dennett famously argues that consciousness is not a
We don't just "have" ideas; ideas often use us to replicate. Culture evolved through a mindless process of selection long before we were smart enough to direct it. 3. The De-Darwinizing of Culture For most of history, cultural change was "Darwinian"—slow,
How did a world of mindless matter give rise to the sublime brilliance of a Bach concerto or the complex engineering of a space station? In his landmark book, , philosopher Daniel Dennett attempts to bridge the gap between "dumb" biology and "intelligent" culture. 1. Competence Without Comprehension