Daniel Dennet Quotes

“According to Daniel Dennett and many other philosophers, free will and determinism are compatible. Despite my agreement with this view, I must admit that my way of coming to the same conclusion may be slightly different, contain different motivations, and come from a different perspective. Therefore, this topic deserves further clarification; although findings may be the same, they may be so for different reasons. Even if they would be the same for the same reasons, they might be based not only on different approaches to the same problem but also on a different perspective in viewing the world—understanding the world, the concept of the world, its potential, and its appearance to us.”
― Dejan Stojanovic, ABSOLUTE

“To prove this to be a definition, not only of determinism but also of the actual world (Universe), to which goal Laplace aims, Laplace would have (or should have) offered “proof” of the actual state of the Universe. Since this was impossible, he defined a world under such “ideal” conditions through an example as a proposition. The question of whether the world, under such “ideal” conditions, would be ideal is highly debatable (we would dare to think that such a world would be not only far from perfect but on the verge of horror). From this argument, it follows that if such a world were not, in fact, ideal, then imagined or proposed “ideal conditions” would not be ideal either.”
― Dejan Stojanovic, ABSOLUTE

“We must conclude that any proposition (definition) of abstract concepts (linguistically or philosophically) is not necessarily a proposition (definition) of that to which these concepts or propositions (definitions) ought to be applied. This kind of thinking, or definitions coming from such thinking, is inherently false.

On the other hand, if the supposed or proposed argument reflected reality, it would be a definition of a fact and not a proposition (“definition”) of an imagined concept. Laplace didn’t show interest in proving that this is the actual reality or even stating it, so it must be that he either imagined his argument as a hypothesis or he believed that this example argument contains enough merits of itself to justify not only the argument but also the fact or truth itself.

From our point of view and the idea of the Universal Mind as having a potential for infinite variety, we can conclude that even an “intellect” of a Universal Mind cannot predict and know all the varieties of its potential and the potential of all possible universes in infinity, which saves it from its own perfection while opening the door for infinite potential of the “free will.”
― Dejan Stojanovic, ABSOLUTE

“DETERMINISM AND PROBABILITY

We may understand determinism as “the thesis that there is at any instant exactly one physically possible future” (Van Inwagen, 1983, used by Dennet in his Edinburgh University lecture). But, a theory, or a thesis, must be based on our concepts, knowledge, and understanding of reality. Our very concepts, understanding, and conclusions about reality may be only partially correct or accidental since there is not enough knowledge (not to mention evidence) to support the particular theory or thesis.

In light of these ideas, it would not only be more economical but also prudent and wise to consider the reality out and beyond the customary spectrum and, by doing this, to come to conclusions or theories that would more significantly, possibly more accurately, reflect not only our ideas but the reality itself as it could be, beyond established and accepted paradigms, and, ideally, reflect the reality as it is. In that way, we would provide the ground (or possible grounds, or open the possibility) for defining the actual reality in a more tangible or, ideally, more accurate and useful manner than defining ideas and concepts based on theories, which may very well be, more or less, futile attempts to define the indefinable, depending on the degree of accuracy of any single approach.

Dennett uses the example of quantum physics to prove that “at any instant, there are many possible futures, and they are completely undetermined.” Once the organism of the Universe is in motion, its destiny is determined to a large extent. This destiny will be different if the same Universe starts motion (walk, experience, life) at any other “moment.” Every destiny of every new Universe or revival is different. That is the potential of the Absolute. This potential or its variations are not known even by the omnipotent intellect or God. Even an “intellect, which knew all the forces that animate Nature at any given moment,” could not know precisely how its potential “materialized” in every new birth, revival, and cycle.”
― Dejan Stojanovic, ABSOLUTE