Nice little metaphors, nice easy read.

Short and much more accessible than most of Dennett's books, Kinds of Minds attempts to explore consciousness through biological and philosophical lenses. While he doesn't use the most advanced brain-scanning science to back up some of his beliefs, his intuitions are easy to follow. His conclusions are unsatisfactory, but his exploration is certainly worth a look.

The book starts with very interesting questions concerning the mind. And it also ends with more or less the same questions, but formulated differently with some categories. Doesn't contain any science. Very disappointing.

I like Daniel Dennett a lot, but I don't like this book.

Really promising

A very good summary of his thoughts on consciousness. The book I would recommend to the layman.

In Kinds of Minds: Toward an Understanding of Consciousness, Dennett presents a compelling exploration of consciousness, synthesizing insights from cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and evolutionary biology. As a newcomer to his work, I found this book to be a fascinating introduction to his ideas, and I am eager to explore more of his writings.

Dennett challenges traditional views of consciousness, arguing that minds are not unique to humans but exist on a continuum across different species. He builds on evolutionary theory, asking what it means to have a mind and whether intelligence must be tied to biological organisms. With his characteristic clarity and wit, Dennett examines the cognitive abilities of animals, the potential for artificial intelligence, and the nature of self-awareness.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Kinds of Minds is Dennett’s discussion on how minds develop and evolve. He proposes that consciousness is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon but rather a layered, gradual process shaped by evolution. He considers the cognitive capacities of various species, questioning whether language is the defining feature of human intelligence and whether robots or advanced AI could ever truly “think” in the way that humans do.

Dennett raises profound questions, such as: Can we ever truly know what it’s like to be another creature? What separates human consciousness from the minds of animals? If an animal were given language, would its intelligence evolve similarly to ours? He invites readers to engage in deep philosophical inquiry but offers few definitive answers, encouraging a mindset of curiosity rather than certainty.

The book is relatively short and accessible, making it an excellent starting point for those new to Dennett’s philosophy. While some of his arguments require careful thought, his engaging style ensures that even complex ideas remain digestible. Readers interested in consciousness, the philosophy of mind, or the intersection of science and philosophy will find Kinds of Minds a thought-provoking and rewarding read.

As my first exposure to Dennett’s work, this book has left me eager to dive into more of his material. His ability to synthesize ideas from multiple disciplines makes him a compelling thinker, and I look forward to further exploring his contributions to philosophy and cognitive science.

Talvez eu não seja filósofo suficiente para
esse livro. O tema é bem abordado, mas mesmo sendo exemplificado e utilizando-se de metáforas simples, me pareceu extenso, repetitivo e algo confuso. Contudo, o autor nos leva a
compreender evolução das diversas capacidades de pensamentos como vantagens evolutivas da espécie, e nos levanta tantas questões que demonstram como estamos
engatinhando no entendimento dessa área de conhecimento.

Quite an interesting reflection on consciousness and the experience of mind

Mais um livro fantástico do Daniel Dennett. Para explicar e discutir sua teoria dos tipos de mentes, ele estabelece três tipos de criaturas: Skinnerian creatures, que respondem a estímulos; Popperian creatures, que sobrevivem melhor porque são capazes de fazer escolhas conscientes, não apenas baseadas em instintos e reflexos primitivos; Gregorian creatures, capazes de usar conhecimento prévio e disponível no mundo real para fazer suas escolhas. Fica bem clara a diferença entre o comportamento de animais que aparentemente exibem comportamento humano (porque nós humanos olhamos para esses animais como se fossem humanos e enxergamos neles esse comportamento), e o comportamento dos seres que têm linguagem como forma de se expressar. A linguagem é que faz toda a diferença na questão da formação de conceitos, raciocínio, etc. É uma leitura intrigante, interessante e muito rica, exige esforço intelectual para ir adiante e entender. E como ele mesmo diz no final: "This book began with a host of questions, and - since this is a book by a philosopher - it ends with no answers but, I hope, with better versions of the questions themselves.".

well, i got to page 75 of 175. usually i don't give up until page 100, but i'm particular these days, especially because i'm skittish about philosophy in general. in the beginning i was supremely entertained by dennett's clever musings on sentience (he's a wonderful writer, much like douglas hofstadter), but in the end the semantics (as usual!) broke me down. "is x sentient or is it merely sensitive to certain inputs?" my answer: well, it depends on how you define "sentient" and "sensitive". my "problem" with much of this sort of discussion always is that you can define words however you like -- the fact that any term or topic bears discussion indicates that communication isn't perfectly efficient. we have to elaborate on a topic to get our point across because uttering one, two, or three words just doesn't get the meaning across.

perhaps dennett addresses the ADD tics of readers like me later on, but i have too many other books i'm excited about to stick with this and find out. :)

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