more on this theme | more from this thinker
Full Idea
Concepts do not require consciousness. As Jaynes says, the bee has a concept of a flower, but not a conscious concept.
Gist of Idea
Maybe there can be non-conscious concepts (e.g. in bees)
Source
Daniel C. Dennett (Brainchildren [1998], Ch.6)
Book Ref
Dennett,Daniel C.: 'Brainchildren' [Penguin 1998], p.128
A Reaction
Does the flower have a concept of rain? Rain plays a big functional role in its existence. It depends, alas, on what we mean by a 'concept'.
| 2526 | Philosophers regularly confuse failures of imagination with insights into necessity [Dennett] |
| 2523 | That every mammal has a mother is a secure reality, but without foundations [Dennett] |
| 2525 | Maybe language is crucial to consciousness [Dennett] |
| 2527 | Unconscious intentionality is the foundation of the mind [Dennett] |
| 2524 | A language of thought doesn't explain content [Dennett] |
| 2530 | Could a robot be made conscious just by software? [Dennett] |
| 2528 | Does consciousness need the concept of consciousness? [Dennett] |
| 2529 | Maybe there can be non-conscious concepts (e.g. in bees) [Dennett] |