How our Belief in Qualia Evolved, and Why We Care so much

A Reply to David H. Baßler

Author

Daniel C. Dennett

daniel.dennett @ tufts.edu

Tufts University

Medford, MA, U.S.A.

Commentator

David H. Baßler

davidhbassler @ gmail.com

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität

Mainz, Germany

Editors

Thomas Metzinger

metzinger @ uni-mainz.de

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität

Mainz, Germany

Jennifer M. Windt

jennifer.windt @ monash.edu

Monash University

Melbourne, Australia

David Baßler’s commentary identifies five unasked questions in my work, and provides excellent answers to them. His explanation of the gradual evolution of higher-order intentionality via a Bayesian account leads to an explanation of the persistence of our deluded belief in qualia.

Keywords

Belief in belief | Dispositions | Intentional systems | Qualia