Single Idea 7655

[catalogued under 16. Persons / E. Rejecting the Self / 4. Denial of the Self]

Full Idea

All the work done by the imagined homunculus in the Cartesian Theater must be distributed among various lesser agencies in the brain, none of which is conscious.

Clarification

A homunculus is a little man

Gist of Idea

The work done by the 'homunculus in the theatre' must be spread amongst non-conscious agencies

Source

Daniel C. Dennett (Sweet Dreams [2005], Ch.3)

Book Reference

Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Sweet Dreams' [MIT 2005], p.69


A Reaction

Dennett's account crucially depends on consciousness being much more fragmentary than most philosophers claim it to be. It is actually full of joints, which can come apart. He may be right.