#5186
Mentioned in 4 episodes

The intentional stance

Book • 1987
In "The Intentional Stance," Daniel Dennett introduces a framework for understanding the behavior of complex systems, including humans, by attributing intentions and beliefs to them.

This approach, he argues, is often the most efficient and useful way to predict and explain behavior, even if the system doesn't actually possess conscious intentions.

Dennett explores the different levels of explanation—physical, design, and intentional—demonstrating how the intentional stance provides a practical and insightful way to understand complex phenomena.

The book challenges traditional views of intentionality and offers a powerful tool for analyzing a wide range of systems.

It's a significant contribution to the philosophy of mind and cognitive science.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 4 episodes

Mentioned by Simon Baron-Cohen as an important book that influenced his thinking about other people's minds.
282 snips
562. What Do We Actually Know About Autism? | Sir Simon Baron-Cohen
Mentioned by Sean Carroll as an important book for understanding consciousness and AI.
19 snips
AMA | May 2024
Mentioned by Darren McKee as a collection of essays on treating systems as if they have goals.
TRC #687: Remembering Daniel Dennett

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