more from Daniel C. Dennett

Single Idea 7383

[catalogued under 16. Persons / B. Nature of the Self / 7. Self and Body / c. Self as brain controller]

Full Idea

Like the biological self, the psychological or narrative self is an abstraction, not a thing in the brain.

Gist of Idea

The psychological self is an abstraction, not a thing in the brain

Source

Daniel C. Dennett (Consciousness Explained [1991], 13.1)

Book Reference

Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Consciousness Explained' [Penguin 1993], p.418


A Reaction

Does Dennett have empirical evidence for this claim? It seems to me perfectly possible that there is a real thing called the 'self', and it is the central controller of the brain (involving propriotreptic awareness, understanding, and will).