- #1
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RIP Daniel Dennett
- Thread starter gmax137
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Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the life and contributions of Daniel Dennett, particularly in the fields of philosophy of mind, science, and biology. Participants reflect on his influence on their understanding of philosophy and its connection to science, as well as their personal experiences with his works.
Discussion Character
- Meta-discussion
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants express admiration for Dennett's ability to connect philosophy with science, noting that he changed their perception of philosophy from being abstract to practical.
- One participant highlights their long-standing appreciation for Dennett's works, particularly mentioning "The Mind's I" and "Brainstorms," and emphasizes his insights on consciousness and free will.
- Another participant acknowledges Dennett's contributions to discussions on consciousness and philosophy but expresses disagreement with his views on free will.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree on Dennett's significant impact on philosophy and science, but there is a disagreement regarding his perspective on free will.
Contextual Notes
Some participants reference specific works and personal experiences, indicating a subjective interpretation of Dennett's contributions and their relevance to individual philosophical inquiries.
- #2
Arjan82
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Yeah, he was my favorite philosopher. In fact, before I discovered him I thought philosophy was this weird thing where you asked silly questions like what the essence of existence is, what is the meaning of life or this Aristoteles stuff which was all a bit far-fetched to me. Nice to think about but otherwise useless. Dennett was the first to make me see the use of philosophy and how it actually can connect with science and add to it.
The lucid and exact way that Dennett could explain things was so inspiring to me. Sad to see him go
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The lucid and exact way that Dennett could explain things was so inspiring to me. Sad to see him go
.- #3
PeterDonis
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I have been a fan of Dennett ever since I read The Mind's I in the early 1980s (which I read because I had like Godel, Escher, Bach and wanted to read more Hofstadter), and then Brainstorms. I have since read every book he has published on consciousness and free will. He will be sorely missed.
- #4
pines-demon
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Very missed, very insightful in relation to consciousness, philosophy and the role of science. However, I was not a fan of his take on free will.
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