The word 'intentionality' appears in Daniel Dennett's Freedom Evolves only once: I think that pretty much says what's lacking in his philosophy: philosophy in the first person. For all his talk about the "intentional stance," he never discusses what it's like for the intender to intend. Instead, he replaces the first person ("I intend") with the third ("that thing over there can be interpreted as acting intentionally").
At this point in my auditing (reading via audible.com) his book I get the impression that he regards appeals to the first-person perspective as unreliable, illusory or ridiculous. I may, however, be mistaken. But in any case, if he does think (or did think) that the first-person approach is so ridiculous, then to be consistent he should also disavow the intentional stance.
I need to look at his arguments more carefully, but the above states my present take...
At this point in my auditing (reading via audible.com) his book I get the impression that he regards appeals to the first-person perspective as unreliable, illusory or ridiculous. I may, however, be mistaken. But in any case, if he does think (or did think) that the first-person approach is so ridiculous, then to be consistent he should also disavow the intentional stance.
I need to look at his arguments more carefully, but the above states my present take...
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