[n4r9]

> made me wonder if a challenging childhood might have fostered his distrust of the mysterious

Why this, and not simply an urge to understand things?

[alex201]

Understand things? He has never successfully explained anything related to consciousness except by using the magical word: illusion. One might argue back, 'You're the illusion, Mr. Dennett,' and we end up as a bunch of ignorant folks pointing fingers.

[n4r9]

I get that you disagree with him. Just saying it's unfair to assume that his natural curiosity stems from some kind of trauma.