Clear all
Work #557 · Mid

Consciousness Explained

Daniel C. Dennett
1991 · English
Analytic philosophy of mind · American analytic naturalism / cognitive science

Dennett's 1991 naturalist-functionalist theory of consciousness — the "multiple drafts" model

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Consciousness Explained (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

⧖

Time

Consciousness Explained

The temporal flow of cognitive processing.

✦

Space

Consciousness Explained

The brain as parallel-processing space.

◉

Matter

Consciousness Explained

The material brain processing multiple drafts.

◎

Observer

Consciousness Explained

The functionally-constituted self.

⚡

Energy

Consciousness Explained

Energies of parallel cognitive processing.

⧉

Information

Consciousness Explained

Multiple-drafts functional-naturalist framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Consciousness Explained

Dennett's eliminativist consciousness theory in continuing dialogue with Chalmers's hard-problem realism.