Dennett's Verificationism: Attack on Cartesian Materialism

In this thesis I explore the role that verificationism plays in Dennett’s attack on the implicit (and sometimes explicit) view of consciousness that he titles Cartesian materialism. I begin by tracing the lineage of verificationism from its historical roots in the Enlightenment period up to and at its heyday in logical positivism. I then proceed to argue that Dennett’s position on content involving the intentional stance produces a form of realism that is too weak. While I disagree with Dennett’s approach to intentional content’s status as a manifestation of the intentional strategy, I find myself largely in agreement with his eliminative materialist and verificationist approach to qualia.