Daniel Dennett - From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds

The Empiricist October 31, 2017 at 23:36 4150 views 6 comments

In this lecture (link below), Daniel Dennett discusses evolutionary biology (Darwin's strange inversion of reasoning), intelligent (top-down) design, the era of post-intelligent design and modern AI.
He uses ideas from computer science and biology to how a comprehending mind could in fact have arisen from a mindless process of natural selection. A mind that not only can perceive and control but can create and comprehend is largely shaped by the processes of cultural evolution. The huge shift when humans developed the ability to share memes and things such as language, itself composed of memes, that are not genetic instincts greatly influenced this so-called cultural evolution. Competition among memes, itself a form of natural selection, produced very well-designed thinking tools that gave us the ability to design our own memes.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfLynOBIsVA

Comments (6)

Wayfarer October 31, 2017 at 23:42 #120175 0 likes

If Dennett is correct, then what he's saying is meaningless. It can't be meaningful, because any meaning it might have, is itself simply a neural construct. So whatever he says, is just the cunning genome's way of attempting to propagate, disguised as 'philosophy'.

BC November 01, 2017 at 00:05 #120184 0 likes

Quoting The Empiricist

A mind that not only can perceive and control but can create and comprehend is largely shaped by the processes of cultural evolution.

The brain, which is the place where 'mind' lives, is entirely biological. The components of the body which make mind possible have been developing since life began. The capacities to perceive, control, create, and comprehend didn't spring out of the scallop shell like Aphrodite. They developed over time in many species. And these capacities exist in various animals, elaborated as appropriate to their survival needs.

Sir2u November 01, 2017 at 02:50 #120216 0 likes

I read(listened to) the book a years or so ago I think it was. I remember that I found some parts of it interesting but don't remember what.

I'll have a look at the video and maybe get back to you.

Rich November 01, 2017 at 04:21 #120235 0 likes

Reply to The Empiricist Do you believe you are a meaningless soup of chemicals?

As far as Dennett is concerned, he found a market where he can spread the word to others seeking confirmation. No different than any other religion. Why do people believe that they are just a soup of chemicals? Exactly the same reason as people believe in an all powerful God.

Forgottenticket November 01, 2017 at 13:14 #120349 0 likes

Quoting Wayfarer

is itself simply a neural construct. So whatever he says, is just the cunning genome's way of attempting to propagate, disguised as 'philosophy'.

In Dawkins' Selfish Gene (which is one of Dennett's bibles) he advocates a type of radical free will:
Quoting Dawkins

We have the power to turn against our creators. We, alone on earth, can rebel against the tyranny of the selfish replicators.

He did elaborate on this in his end notes that the brain as a organ (its surrounding structure ect) can be understood as separate from the genes/memes but did not say how.

-----
Also aren't memetics still considered a pseudoscience?

Nils Loc November 01, 2017 at 19:24 #120476 0 likes

*Deleted*