3 ms·
Daniel Dennett has a nice phrase for what plants, etc. do: Competence without comprehension. I think it sort of applies here. (And broadly to a lot of human act
by lomnakkus 9y ago
Daniel Dennett has a nice phrase for what plants, etc. do: Competence without comprehension. I think it sort of applies here. (And broadly to a lot of human activities, but I would definitely classify "good at math" as requiring some degree of comprehension whereas limb movement... not so much[1].)
[1] You don't really need to understand _how_ you're moving your arm. You just do it -- it's on autopilot.
- skc 9y agoI'm reading Dennet's From Bacteria to Bach and Back right now. Highly recommended if you're interested in philosophical discussions about this sort of stuff. I'm finding it highly entertaining and deliciously provocative.