Dennett, Daniel

(1942– )

American philosopher of mind. Dennett was educated at Harvard and Oxford, and teaches at Tufts university. His conception of our understanding of each other, in terms of taking up an ‘intentional stance’ which is useful for prediction and explanation, has been widely discussed. Debate concerns whether we can usefully take up the stance towards inanimate things, and whether the account does sufficient justice to the real existence of mental states. Dennett has also been a major force in illustrating how the philosophy of mind needs to be informed by work in surrounding sciences. Works include Content and Consciousness (1969), Brainstorms (1978), Elbow Room (1984), The Intentional Stance (1987), and Consciousness Explained (1991).