Dr. Daniel Dennett discusses aboutness, intention, ethics, and trust in religious and secular worlds. They touch on academic freedom, postmodernism, and the loss of trust. Topics include patterns, unity of spirit, neuroscience, and the ethics of AI and technology.
Read more
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Dr. Dennett highlights the evolving moral standards across history and the complexities of merging scientific and religious perspectives.
The podcast dives into nuanced discussions on intentionality, aboutness, and philosophical concepts derived from thinkers like Brentano.
Trust, mutual goodwill, and academic freedom are pivotal for fostering scientific dialogues and the collaborative nature of scientific inquiry.
Deep dives
Exploring the Relationship Between Science, Morality, and Religion
The podcast delves into Dr. Daniel Dennett's views on the interplay between science, morality, and religion. Dr. Dennett posits that the religious viewpoint has been superseded and discusses the complexities in reconciling scientific and religious perspectives. The discussion highlights the evolution of moral standards throughout history and delves into how differing systems of apprehension and conception intersect.
Intentionality and Aboutness: Unraveling Philosophical Concepts
The conversation transitions into a nuanced exploration of intentionality and aboutness in philosophical contexts. Dr. Dennett and the host navigate the distinctions between intentionality, thoughts being directed at something, and aboutness as related to thoughts and perceptions. The dialogue dissects concepts derived from philosophers like Brentano and delves into the intricacies of understanding thoughts about real and fictional entities.
Trust, Autonomy, and Dialogue: Key Elements in Scientific Discourse
The discussion uncovers the foundational role of trust, mutual goodwill, and autonomy in fostering productive scientific dialogues. Emphasizing the significance of dialogue among equals, the podcast underscores the importance of academic freedom and the exchange of diverse ideas in scientific and philosophical pursuits. It navigates the dynamics of self-control, autonomy development, and the collaborative nature of scientific inquiry that thrives on trust and respectful dialogue.
Scientific Enterprise's Foundation in Order and Solidity
The scientific enterprise thrives on the assumed order and reliability it builds upon. Despite the battles and controversies at its forefront, the core of science rests on agreed-upon principles. These principles include assumptions of an intelligible order that science maps beneficially. The scientific track record reinforces the validity of relying on this order, allowing for the dependable progress of the enterprise.
Secular Ethics and the Evolution of Moral Principles
The interplay between the secular and moral enterprises, as discussed, points to a nested relationship. While the scientific enterprise operates within the broader moral framework, this foundation relies on secular underpinnings. The evolution of ethics over millennia showcases a secularization trend, divorcing ethics from solely religious realms. The persistence of foundational secular principles guides normative inquiries, distinct from but crucially interconnected with scientific endeavors.
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with writer, philosopher, and cognitive scientist Dr. Daniel Dennett. They discuss the concepts of aboutness, intention, and the highest good as they relate to the religious and secular worlds, the establishment of trust and ethics outside of transcendent presupposition, and the loss of academic freedom at the misapprehension of postmodernism.
Dr. Daniel Dennett is an American philosopher, writer, and cognitive scientist. He has published dozens of books, such as “Consciousness Explained" (1992), “Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life” (1996), and “Breaking the Spell: Religion as Natural Phenomena” (2007).
- Links -
2024 tour details can be found here https://jordanbpeterson.com/events
Peterson Academy https://petersonacademy.com/
For Dr. Daniel Dennett:
On X https://twitter.com/danieldennett?lang=en
The Problem with Counterfeit People (Article on AI, the Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/05/problem-counterfeit-people/674075/