Best of Daniel Dennett Amazing Arguments And Clever Comebacks Part 3

2 thoughts on “Best of Daniel Dennett Amazing Arguments And Clever Comebacks Part 3”

1. Dr Dennett seems to want to say there is continuum within the consciousnesses "family." There is plenty of support for this. We now know that trees have a form of consciousness. They even have a sense of altruism in that they can detect that a neighboring tree is suffering and the will transfer aid to it. They know their offspring and will not poison the ground that supports them. Yet we seem to want to say that animals have a greater, or more sophisticated, version of consciousness. And animal consciousness can be ranked as well. Chimps have a more sophisticated version than mice. Humans – well most of them – have a more sophisticated version than chimps.

   That's well and good, but why stop there? Isn't it only hubris talking if you think humans are the apex? Would we even know if there were beings as much "above" us as we are above chimps? Would we even know what that would look like?

2. Interesting. I, for many years, have held the belief that other lifeforms had consciousness. It seems perfectly reasonable, to varying degrees of course, but a consciousness nonetheless. Should it ever be confirmed as fact, consider the effect it will have, or should have, on humanity's treatment toward the Earth itself. As far as a higher consciousness is concerned, above that of we humans', it's fascinating to consider the Universe itself as having a consciousness. But, of course, not being that of a deity of any kind, this would only debase the wonderment of it all.

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