Consciousness Explained

Consciousness Explained is a book by the American philosopher Daniel Dennett, first published in 1991. The book presents a comprehensive theory of consciousness and attempts to explain how mental states, events, and processes can be understood in terms of physical processes in the brain.

Overview

In Consciousness Explained, Dennett argues against the traditional Cartesian dualism and the idea of a homunculus—a "little man" inside the brain who perceives and interprets sensory information. Instead, he proposes a model known as the Multiple Drafts Model of consciousness.

Multiple Drafts Model

The Multiple Drafts Model suggests that consciousness is not a single, unified stream but rather a series of parallel processes that occur simultaneously in the brain. These processes are like "drafts" that are constantly being edited and revised. According to Dennett, there is no central place where consciousness happens; instead, it is distributed across various brain regions.

Key Concepts

Intentional Stance

Dennett introduces the concept of the intentional stance, a strategy for predicting and explaining behavior by treating entities as if they have beliefs, desires, and intentions. This stance is useful for understanding both human and animal behavior and is a central theme in Dennett's philosophy.

Heterophenomenology

Another important concept in the book is heterophenomenology, a method for studying consciousness that involves treating people's reports of their experiences as data. This approach allows researchers to build a third-person, objective science of consciousness.

Criticism of Cartesian Theater

Dennett criticizes the idea of the Cartesian Theater, a metaphorical place in the brain where "it all comes together" and consciousness happens. He argues that this notion is flawed and that consciousness should be understood as a distributed process without a central locus.

Impact and Reception

Consciousness Explained has been influential in the fields of philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and neuroscience. It has sparked debates and discussions about the nature of consciousness and the best ways to study it. While some have praised Dennett's innovative approach, others have criticized it for being too reductive.

See Also

• Daniel Dennett
• Philosophy of mind
• Cognitive science
• Neuroscience
• Cartesian dualism
• Homunculus
• Intentional stance
• Heterophenomenology
• Cartesian Theater