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Full Idea
I don't maintain, of course, that human consciousness does not exist; I maintain that it is not what people often think it is.
Gist of Idea
I don't deny consciousness; it just isn't what people think it is
Source
Daniel C. Dennett (Sweet Dreams [2005], Ch.3)
Book Ref
Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Sweet Dreams' [MIT 2005], p.71
A Reaction
I consider Dennett to be as near as you can get to an eliminativist, but he is not stupid. As far as I can see, the modern philosopher's bogey-man, the true total eliminativist, simply doesn't exist. Eliminativists usually deny propositional attitudes.
| 7654 | What matters about neuro-science is the discovery of the functional role of the chemistry [Dennett] |
| 7655 | The work done by the 'homunculus in the theatre' must be spread amongst non-conscious agencies [Dennett] |
| 7656 | I don't deny consciousness; it just isn't what people think it is [Dennett] |
| 7657 | Intelligent agents are composed of nested homunculi, of decreasing intelligence, ending in machines [Dennett] |
| 7658 | Obviously there can't be a functional anaylsis of qualia if they are defined by intrinsic properties [Dennett] |