Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal

Daniel Dennett: Philosophy, Free Will, Thinking Differently

53 snips
Dec 26, 2023
Guest
Daniel C. Dennett
In this insightful discussion, philosopher Daniel Dennett dives into the intricacies of consciousness and free will. He challenges the notion of an immaterial soul, arguing for a biological basis of consciousness. The conversation spans ethical dilemmas surrounding AI, highlighting the risks of mistaking machine interactions for genuine human experience. Dennett also addresses the delicate balance between free will and determinism, using engaging metaphors like sailing to illustrate complex ideas. Prepare for a thought-provoking exploration of philosophy's intersections with science and technology!
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ANECDOTE

Dennett's Soul

  • Daniel Dennett defines the soul as a non-magical abstraction representing a living human body.
  • He explains it's the organized collaboration of cells, quoting Giulio Giorello: "Yes, we have a soul, but it's made of lots of tiny robots."
INSIGHT

Free Will Importance

  • Dennett believes free will is the most important philosophical question because its denial has negative consequences.
  • He argues against scientists like Robert Sapolsky, Jerry Coyne, and Sam Harris who deny free will.
INSIGHT

Qualia Rejection

  • Dennett rejects qualia as irrelevant, arguing their existence is a philosophical wild goose chase.
  • He illustrates this with a change blindness experiment where people disagree on qualia despite the same experience.
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