Single Idea 19273

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / c. Knowing other minds]

Full Idea

My attitude towards him is an attitude towards a soul. I am not of the 'opinion' that he has a soul.

Gist of Idea

I don't have the opinion that people have minds; I just treat them as such

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], II.iv)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Philosophical Investigations', ed/tr. Anscombe,E. [Blackwell 1972], p.178


A Reaction

This seems to be precisely Dennett's 'intentional stance', where we conjure up minds in things like chess-playing computers, irrespective of whether we believe they are conscious.