What is consciousness? Philosopher, Dan Dennett explains.

[greyarea]

Great content NS, this is the sort of thing I think we would all like to see from you, rather than the boiled down catchy headlines with a 30 second video that repeats its own title actual conversations like this are genuinely tantalising and satisfying.

More of this, please!

[torstrasburg]

The world would be a lesser place without our beloved Daniel Dennett.

[jonahansen]

Excellent description by a man who has spent his life working on understanding consciousness.

[jonahansen]

The more I re-watch this, the more I realize how great it is. His analyses and explanation are excellent, holistic arguments that are logically tight and must be at least close to the true working of the brain producing consciousness.

[capitalcontested]

For those without a background in Philosophy, I'd like to point out that this is one theory of mind only. This is Dennett's variation of physicalism, the idea that consciousness can be reduced down to and explained by the brain. Now, while few philosophers, except dualists, doubt that the mind (consciousness) is generated by the brain, it seems puzzling to think that we'll discover anything about consciousness by studying the brain (which is what Dennett suggests when comparing learning about consciousness to learning about the stomach); because, there has never been a discovery in science which has shown any light on the experience of consciousness, so even if we discover every physical behavior of the brain, have we really learned anything new about how it generates consciousness? Too rephrase Nagel, if I learn everything about a bat's brain, do I know anything about what it's like to be a conscious bat?
I respect Dennett, but he's, understandably, presenting this as if it's a fact, where's it's really just physicalism and open to many critiques.

[JamesHawkeYouTube]

The brain's user interface for itself??? Are we dealing with amateurs here? Are we living in Idiocracy? What makes the brain self-aware David? Circular reasoning is not philosophy.

[wengemurphy]

Dan Dennett is a zombie. If it feels like he's never actually talking about consciousness, that's because he isn't. He doesn't have it himself, so how could he ever know consciousness? He's an eliminativist, and that's due to his own lack of it.

[philipose]

how often, during a very complex interview or lecture, does the main character never get lost in thought----this guy is so well rehearsed (i say that in a positive way), that he does not phumph

[philipose]

much respect i give to this man's ability to have learned and express what he has learned and go even beyond that

[Kerpeles]

Sounds absurd to me that "free will" is something some people obtain and some somehow don't. There is no point where peoole suddenly become able to take responsibility to their actions. They just learn to think that way but they are still able to make the same childish mistakes with no control over it. Mistakes made without thinking too much and maybe on some primitive or emotional basis. They just take the responsibility of their actions afterwards.

[george]

Nice to enjoy a talk video that does not include background music. There are so few on YouTube.

[senjinomukae]

he needs to give up his 'free will' bullshit. 99% of people see free will a certain way, and we all know that. So Dan should stop trying to fluff the issue with bullshit definitions of free will that no one else agrees with. he knows damn well what the average man in the street thinks of as free will, so he should just admit it's an illusion and stop trying to weasel his way out of it.

[JMnyJohns]

What a gem. I remember reading CE and being excited by the content and the mind that created it. He does not disappoint here - he speaks slowly and methodically - which some might not enjoy, but he is trying to communicate immensely complex things in a way that is appreciable and intuitive. Well worth your time. Thanks for posting.

[alfredtwentyman]

Birds do lie. Dan Dennett is wrong about that.

[jellojiggle]

I would describe this conversation as dancing around a fire and refusing to believe it is the source of the heat and light that is observed.

[Rico-Suave_]

I loved Dr. Daniel Dennett, very sad to hear about his passing, I've would have loved to meet him, he was my absolute favorite, an intellectual giant, a legend, true sage, heard he was also very kind gentle person, huge loss to civilization, I will watch tons of his lectures in the next few weeks in his memory, I made a playlist of his lectures and interviews for myself to work through, listening to Dr Dennett lectures would be my idea of Heaven 41:00

[johnnyjohnny-cgnp]

"Use your illusion" - awesome GnR albums

[jorostuff]

He speaks with simple words in an understandable way, while his book is incredible confusing.

[iordanneDiogeneslucas]

Why would the brain need a user interface?

[maxziebell]

Good interview. Always great to see Daniel Dennett in action.