Intuition pumps and other tools for thinking
by Daniel C. Dennett · first published 2013
57% recommend43% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Explains philosophy through practical thought experiments and mental tools for reasoning about consciousness and ideas; a good pick for readers who want clearer thinking, including fans of Dennett's writing.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Daniel Dennett, one of the world's most original and provocative thinkers, takes readers on a profound, illuminating and highly entertaining philosophical journey as he reveals a collection of his favorite thinking tools, or "intuition pumps", that he and others have developed for addressing life's most fundamental questions.
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If you are interested in thought experiments, this book does a great job of providing you "tools for thinking". The book is called intuition pumps and other tools for thinking by Daniel Dennett. https://www.amazon.com/Intuition-Pumps-Other-Tools-Thinking/...
on “What Is a Thought Experiment, Anyhow? (2006) [pdf]” ↗A great book on this topic: Intuition Pumps And Other Tools for Thinking by Daniel C. Dennett A world-class philosopher of many decades (I read many of his books, highly recommend) shares his thoughts on this topic. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AR354AQ
on “How Philosophers Think” ↗I recently read "Intuition Pumps And Other Tools For Thinking" by Dennett (http://www.amazon.com/Intuition-Pumps-Other-Tools-Thinking/d...). I think you are not giving him enough credit. He actually spends most of the book arguing against popular ideas in philosophy…
on “Daniel Dennett: The Normal Well-Tempered Mind” ↗…understand culture. I hear The Extended Phenotype, again by Dawkins, is also excellent, but regrettably, I haven't read it yet. I also highly recommend Dan Dennett. He covers these topics more directly. Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking covers his thoughts on consciousness and evolution in a very direct and superbly clear manner. Dennett also co-edited an anthology of fiction and non-fiction called The Mind's I with Douglas Hofstadter…
on “Ants swarm like brains think” ↗Daniel Dennett has an excellent book Intuition Pumps And Other Tools for Thinking https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393348784 Here's a short article about it: https://fs.blog/dan-dannetts-thinking-tools/ One lovely idea I liked from the book is a recommendation, whenever in an argument…
on “Tools for Better Thinking” ↗…way to slow down and think clearly. So I propose exposing yourself to well-thought-out arguments to see the kinds of "moves" people make. A good place to start may be with the book by Daniel Dennett: Intuition Pumps And Other Tools for Thinking https://www.amazon.com/Intuition-Pumps-Other-Tools-Thinking-... Similarly, it's great to read good science books with careful arguments. One of the best I think is Culture of Honor: The Psychology of…
on “Ask HN: Exercises to think, then speak, more clearly?” ↗…philosophers is Daniel Dennett. He wrote many excellent books through which you can learn how to think better on specific topics and in general. But one of his books he focuses specifically on thinking: Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking https://www.amazon.com/Intuition-Pumps-Other-Tools-Thinking/...
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and problem solver?” ↗Just write - but in seriousness, On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser and Dennett's Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking
on “Writes and Write-Nots” ↗…only started to dip into various parts, but I can already confirm that it is a good introductory compendium of the basics of philosophy, logic, and argumentation. In the same vein is Daniel Dennett's Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking. A personal favorite is Frances Yates's The Art of Memory (think: intersection of rhetoric, mnemonic systems, philosophical systems, and the occult during the Renaissance). Matthew Butterick's Practical…
on “Ask HN: What books have been worth your time?” ↗Intuition pumps and other tools for thinking, by Dan dennett.
on “Ask HN: Any recommended books on developing mental models?” ↗Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking, by Daniel Dennett
on “Ask HN: Books recommendations on developing critical thinking?” ↗…beauty of it! Good luck, and let me know if you think I can be of assistance. PS: Other writers and thinkers to definitely check out on these topics: Charlie Munger; Richard Feynman; Daniel Dennett (“Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking”).
on “Ask HN: How to Learn 'To Think'?” ↗Dan Dennett, the author of the piece that sparked this one, is an obvious intellectual ancestor to these ideas. I can't recommend his book "Intuition Pumps and other Tools for Thinking" enough. In it, he lays out his entire model of the mind, and really, the whole universe. It's eminently approachable and provides a good introduction to the way of thinking lying behind this article.
on “Neurons Gone Wild” ↗…into their abilities to make new products and solve new problems. Ultimately, Creative Intelligence shows how to frame problems in new ways and devise solutions that are original and highly social. 10. Intuition Pumps And Other Tools for Thinking by Daniel C. Dennett (planning to read) - c'mon, it's Daniel Dennett! 11. Surfaces and Essences: Analogy as the Fuel and Fire of Thinking - Douglas Hofstadter and Emmanuel Sander (planning to read)…
on “My Summer Reading List” ↗…World Order (Kissinger) Der Grundrisse (Marx) The Grand Chessboard (Brzezinski) Manufacturing Consent (Chomsky) Gulag Archipelago (Solhenitzyn) On War (Clausewitz) The Hidden Persuaders (Packard) Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking (Dennett) The Strategy of Desire (Dichter) Skills acquired: intentional syntopical reading, prediction of geopolitical hinge points, and identification of absent context in media... I'm always looking…
on “Ask HN: What books have you read in the first half of 2016?” ↗