Dennett 2013

By Wayne Brown


Dennett describes the idea that you can break down the mind into "dumber" minds and those into dumber minds and so on. He calls it an "dramatic over simplification". He now likes to think of neurons as a competing society (let's call this "hypothetical reductionism", distinguished by reduction of the need to explain something into the hypothetical ability to solve something simpler) and persues the analogy all the way up to society.

Still refers to "cognitive science". As a philosopher, he is wistful about the younger generations that take computers for granted. Still clinging to Turing. Likes recursive organizations, virtual machines implemented on top of virtual machines. Control in computers is very different from control in brains. Computer is a society of slaves. Creeping love of competition and survival. His "hunch" is that competition applies in the brain - an admittedly wild idea. And back to how we are the only species like this. Culture creates a new sphere for neurons to compete. "Very speculative" for sure. At least he's considering the possibility that he's wrong. Mentions plasticity. What's in it for neurons when they pitch in and do new work? Is it true that unemployed neurons are killed off? Talks about emergence and cities, winding up with an analogy between free enterprise in NYC and the brain. "Reeks of over-enthusiastic metaphor". Ready to reconsider his model of cultural evolution. Doesn't mention genes at all. Not all of cultural assets are treasures. Also a lot of crap, like mud and fleas - they just ride along. Language is a "prime case" - very little design or thought behind language. (30:00) Free will. (34:00) Authority - attack on religion without mention of memes. "Professional double-talk" - lost track of what we call the truth - "Suspension of disbelief"

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