About the book
In the years since Daniel Dennett's influential Consciousness Explained was published in 1991, scientific research on consciousness has been a hotly contested battleground of rival theories—\"so rambunctious,\" Dennett observes, \"that several people are writing books just about the tumult.\" With Sweet Dreams, Dennett returns to the subject for \"revision and renewal\" of his theory of consciousness, taking into account major empirical advances in the field since 1991 as well as recent theoretical challenges.
In Consciousness Explained, Dennett proposed to replace the ubiquitous but bankrupt Cartesian Theater model (which posits a privileged place in the brain where \"it all comes together\" for the magic show of consciousness) with the Multiple Drafts Model. Drawing on psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, he asserted that human consciousness is essentially the mental software that reorganizes the functional architecture of the brain. In Sweet Dreams, he recasts the Multiple Drafts Model as the \"fame in the brain\" model, as a background against which to examine the philosophical issues that \"continue to bedevil the field.\"
With his usual clarity and brio, Dennett enlivens his arguments with a variety of vivid examples. He isolates the \"Zombic Hunch\" that distorts much of the theorizing of both philosophers and scientists, and defends heterophenomenology, his \"third-person\" approach to the science of consciousness, against persistent misinterpretations and objections. The old challenge of Frank Jackson's thought experiment about Mary the color scientist is given a new rebuttal in the form of \"RoboMary,\" while his discussion of a famous card trick, \"The Tuned Deck,\" is designed to show that David Chalmers's Hard Problem is probably just a figment of theorists' misexploited imagination. In the final essay, the \"intrinsic\" nature of \"qualia\" is compared with the naively imagined \"intrinsic value\" of a dollar in \"Consciousness—How Much is That in Real Money?\"
Editions of Sweet Dreams
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262042253
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262541916
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262250726
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262251341
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262271530
Read an Excerpt
In the years since Daniel Dennett's influential Consciousness Explained was published in 1991, scientific research on consciousness has been a hotly contested battleground of rival theories—\"so rambunctious,\" Dennett observes, \"that several people are writing books just about the tumult.\" With Sweet Dreams, Dennett returns to the subject for \"revision and renewal\" of his theory of consciousness, taking into account major empirical advances in the field since 1991 as well as recent theoretical challenges.
In Consciousness Explained, Dennett proposed to replace the ubiquitous but bankrupt Cartesian Theater model (which posits a privileged place in the brain where \"it all comes together\" for the magic show of consciousness) with the Multiple Drafts Model. Drawing on psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, he asserted that human consciousness is essentially the mental software that reorganizes the functional architecture of the brain. In Sweet Dreams, he recasts the Multiple Drafts Model as the \"fame in the brain\" model, as a background against which to examine the philosophical issues that \"continue to bedevil the field.\"
With his usual clarity and brio, Dennett enlivens his arguments with a variety of vivid examples. He isolates the \"Zombic Hunch\" that distorts much of the theorizing of both philosophers and scientists, and defends heterophenomenology, his \"third-person\" approach to the science of consciousness, against persistent misinterpretations and objections. The old challenge of Frank Jackson's thought experiment about Mary the color scientist is given a new rebuttal in the form of \"RoboMary,\" while his discussion of a famous card trick, \"The Tuned Deck,\" is designed to show that David Chalmers's Hard Problem is probably just a figment of theorists' misexploited imagination. In the final essay, the \"intrinsic\" nature of \"qualia\" is compared with the naively imagined \"intrinsic value\" of a dollar in \"Consciousness—How Much is That in Real Money?\"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sweet Dreams about?
In the years since Daniel Dennett's influential Consciousness Explained was published in 1991, scientific research on consciousness has been a hotly contested battleground of rival theories—\"so rambunctious,\" Dennett observes, \"that several people are writing books just about the tumult.\" With Sweet Dreams, Dennett returns to the subject for \"revision and renewal\" of his theory of consciousness, taking into account major empirical advances in the field since 1991 as well as recent theoretical challenges.
In Consciousness Explained, Dennett proposed to replace the ubiquitous but bankrupt Cartesian Theater model (which posits a privileged place in the brain where \"it all comes together\" for the magic show of consciousness) with the Multiple Drafts Model. Drawing on psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and artificial intelligence, he asserted that human consciousness is essentially the mental software that reorganizes the functional architecture of the brain. In Sweet Dreams, he recasts the Multiple Drafts Model as the \"fame in the brain\" model, as a background against which to examine the philosophical issues that \"continue to bedevil the field.\"
With his usual clarity and brio, Dennett enlivens his arguments with a variety of vivid examples. He isolates the \"Zombic Hunch\" that distorts much of the theorizing of both philosophers and scientists, and defends heterophenomenology, his \"third-person\" approach to the science of consciousness, against persistent misinterpretations and objections. The old challenge of Frank Jackson's thought experiment about Mary the color scientist is given a new rebuttal in the form of \"RoboMary,\" while his discussion of a famous card trick, \"The Tuned Deck,\" is designed to show that David Chalmers's Hard Problem is probably just a figment of theorists' misexploited imagination. In the final essay, the \"intrinsic\" nature of \"qualia\" is compared with the naively imagined \"intrinsic value\" of a dollar in \"Consciousness—How Much is That in Real Money?\"
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Sweet Dreams?
Philosophy and Religion > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Philosophy of mind
Where can I read a sample of Sweet Dreams?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262042253
Is Sweet Dreams part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Jean Nicod Lectures
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Sweet Dreams?
Daniel C. Dennett
Who is the Publisher of the book Sweet Dreams?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Sweet Dreams is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262042253) and paperback(ISBN 9780262541916) and ebook(ISBN 9780262250726) and ebook(ISBN 9780262251341) and ebook(ISBN 9780262271530)
Where can I buy Sweet Dreams online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Sweet Dreams from below
Where can I buy Sweet Dreams?