Dennett, Daniel

Philosopher American Born 1942 (age 84)

Developed intentional stance and consciousness as illusion.

410 quotes

"Stories are how we make sense of our experiences."
Philosophy
"Narrative is the natural language of the human mind."
Philosophy
"History teaches us what's possible, not what's inevitable."
History
"Progress is real, though uneven and contested."
Change
"Technology amplifies human capacities, both good and bad."
Technology
"Digital minds may someday rival biological ones."
Technology
"Artificial consciousness would challenge our deepest assumptions."
Philosophy
"The hard problem of consciousness may not be as hard as we think."
Philosophy
"Zombies are conceivable, but that doesn't mean they're possible."
Philosophy
"Dualism is intellectually bankrupt."
Philosophy
"The brain is a prediction machine."
Science
"Perception is active, not passive."
Science
"We see what we expect to see."
Wisdom
"Attention shapes reality in profound ways."
Philosophy
"Consciousness allows us to model counterfactual scenarios."
Philosophy
"Planning for the future requires mental time travel."
Philosophy
"Dreams are the mind's way of running simulations."
Dreams
"Sleep deprivation impairs every aspect of human function."
Health
"The body's wisdom is encoded in our emotions."
Health
"Fear is a useful signal, not a permanent truth."
Courage
"Emotions are evaluations, not mysterious forces."
Philosophy
"Love is an evolved mechanism for bonding."
Love
"Kindness has deep evolutionary roots."
Kindness
"Empathy is learned and cultivated, not automatic."
"Cooperation requires the ability to predict others' intentions."
Relationships
"Trust is a calculated risk, not blind faith."
Relationships
"Forgiveness is a practical skill for social living."
Peace
"Patience is the capacity to tolerate uncertainty."
Patience
"Perseverance is not blind stubbornness; it's strategic persistence."
Perseverance
"Failure teaches us more than success."
Wisdom