Daniel C. Dennett (1942–2024) was one of the most influential philosophers of mind and cognitive science, influencing how we understand consciousness, free will, and intelligence. Through his work, he challenged traditional assumptions about the mind, rejecting the idea of a central “Cartesian Theater” and instead advocating for a more distributed, evolutionary, and functionalist view of cognition. Dennett’s groundbreaking books—Consciousness Explained (1991), Darwin’s Dangerous Idea (1995), and From Bacteria to Bach and Back (2017)—bridged philosophy, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and evolutionary biology. His idea of the intentional stance provided a powerful framework for understanding both human and artificial minds, influencing not only philosophy but also AI research, psychology, and robotics. Dennett’s legacy extends far beyond these topics, shaping public discourse on science, religion, and the future of intelligence. His sharp wit, intellectual rigor, and unwavering curiosity inspired generations of thinkers. To honor his life and work, we invite you to a special event.
We are pleased to host Krzysztof Dolega (PhD), a cognitive scientist and philosopher whose research explores the intersections of consciousness, cognition, and computation. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Consciousness, Cognition & Computation Group (CO3) at CRNC, he also teaches philosophy at the Max Planck School of Cognition. Dolega completed his PhD at Ruhr-Universität Bochum under the supervision of Tobias Schlicht and Daniel Dennett, earning summa cum laude distinction and receiving the GfD annual prize for the best interdisciplinary dissertation. His work examines how predictive processing models shape our understanding of perception and consciousness, offering fresh perspectives on the mechanisms underlying experience. Beyond this, his research spans mental representation, the philosophy of computation, AI ethics, metacognition, and philosophy of science. His talk for In Memoriam: Daniel Dennett is titled as “Beyond Illusion: Dennett’s View on Consciousness.” You can learn more about the content via the summary below:
“Daniel Dennett’s work has played a crucial role in shaping early scientific approaches to consciousness, yet his views on the subject have sparked controversy and even ridicule from fellow philosophers. His position is frequently misrepresented as a denial of consciousness itself, with Galen Strawson famously dismissing it as “the silliest view ever held in the history of human thought.” In this talk, I will offer an overview of Dennett’s views on consciousness and defend them against the claim that they deny the very phenomenon they aim to explain. Additionally, I will argue that Dennett’s perspective occupies a unique position between realism and eliminativism about consciousness, offering a nuanced and under appreciated approach to understanding the phenomenon.”
To access the Zoom link please fill out the following form. We will send the Zoom link to the event via e-mail.
Platform: Zoom
Date: April 29th, Tuesday
Time: 5 PM (GMT+3) / 3 PM (CET) / 10 AM (EST)
