Consciousness interpreted: an interpretation of Dennett’s view of consciousness
Philosophical Psychology November 29, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/09515089.2024.2433526 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Dennett's theory of consciousness is best understood as holding that consciousness is a "real pattern," and that this interpretation makes coherent sense of multiple drafts, global workspace theory, qualia eliminativism, the user-illusion view, and the special authority of consciousness reports, showing the view to be consistent rather than contradictory. |
Abstract
ABSTRACT Dennett’s work has had a profound impact on philosophical and scientific understanding of consciousness. However, interpreting Dennett’s work on consciousness is notoriously challenging. Some have even suggested that his ideas are contradictory. This paper develops and defends an interpretation of Dennett’s views, on which consciousness is a real pattern. I argue that this interpretation can make sense of some initially puzzling features of the view, including: multiple drafts, global workspace theory, qualia eliminativism, consciousness as a user-illusion, and the claim that our reports about consciousness have a special kind of authority. Far from being a tangle of contradictory ideas, this interpretation of Dennett consists of a consistent and robust theory of conscious experience.