Question

Daniel Dennett argued that many things we used to explain in supernatural terms now have scientific explanations, and consciousness is no different; therefore, even though consciousness seems mysterious now, we will one day understand it enough to replicate it in new forms. Dennett was arguing:

a) Substance dualism
b) Identity theory
c) Eliminative materialism
d) Epiphenomenalism

Answer 1

Daniel Dennett's views are consistent with eliminative materialism, which suggests that scientific understanding will ultimately explain consciousness without relying on supernatural or dualistic concepts.

Step-by-step explanation:

Daniel Dennett's argument that consciousness, despite its current mysterious nature, will eventually be understood sufficiently to allow replication in new forms aligns with c) Eliminative materialism. Eliminative materialism holds that common-sense understanding of psychological phenomena (folk psychology) will eventually be replaced by a more mechanistic and scientifically verifiable framework. Dennett argues that just as many supernatural explanations have been displaced by scientific inquiry, the phenomenon of consciousness will also yield to scientific explanation, thus eliminating the need for dualistic or other non-material explanations of mind.