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Full Idea
Postulating a language of thought is a postponement of the central problems of content ascription, not a necessary first step.
Gist of Idea
A language of thought doesn't explain content
Source
Daniel C. Dennett (Brainchildren [1998], Ch.25)
Book Ref
Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Brainchildren' [Penguin 1998], p.363
A Reaction
If the idea of content is built on the idea of representation, then you need some account of what the brain does with its representations.
Related Idea
Idea 2483 Mentalese doesn't require a theory of meaning [Fodor]
| 2526 | Philosophers regularly confuse failures of imagination with insights into necessity [Dennett] |
| 2524 | A language of thought doesn't explain content [Dennett] |
| 2523 | That every mammal has a mother is a secure reality, but without foundations [Dennett] |
| 2525 | Maybe language is crucial to consciousness [Dennett] |
| 2527 | Unconscious intentionality is the foundation of the mind [Dennett] |
| 2529 | Maybe there can be non-conscious concepts (e.g. in bees) [Dennett] |
| 2528 | Does consciousness need the concept of consciousness? [Dennett] |
| 2530 | Could a robot be made conscious just by software? [Dennett] |