Up till now [the development of proto-consciousness], we can suppose, nervous systems solved the Now what do I do? problem by a relatively simple balancing act between a strictly limited repertoire of actions – if not the famous four F's (fight, flee, feed, or mate), then a modest elaboration of them.
Download Image Share on X Share on Facebook

About This Quote

About Daniel Dennett

Daniel Dennett was a 20th-century American philosopher. Daniel Clement Dennett III was an American philosopher and cognitive scientist. His research centered on the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of science, and the philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. Read more on Wikipedia →

More quotes by Daniel Dennett

“The earth has grown a nervous system, and it's us.”
— Daniel Dennett
earth environment

“Human consciousness is just about the last surviving mystery. A mystery is a phenomenon that people don't know how to think about - yet. There have been other great mysteries: the mystery of the or...”
— Daniel Dennett
consciousness mystery philosophy questions

“In most sciences, there are few findings more prized than a counterintuitive result. It shows something surprising and forces us to reconsider our often tacit assumptions. In philosophy of mind, a ...”
— Daniel Dennett
cognitive-science intuition philosophy-of-mind

“The problem is that no ethical system has ever achieved consensus. Ethical systems are completely unlike mathematics or science. This is a source of concern.”
— Daniel Dennett
Mathematics Problem

“The secret of happiness is: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it.”
— Daniel Dennett
Life Important You

“I don't think the 9/11 attacks taught us anything we didn't already know about religion. It has long been obvious - even to the deeply religious - that religious fanaticism is an extremely dangerou...”
— Daniel Dennett
People Long Know
View all quotes by Daniel Dennett →