Dennett in a Nutshell.PDF

What does Dennett mean by a "skyhook"? The concept of "skyhook" has an uncertain origin, though Dennett cites an anecdote of "...an aeroplane pilot commanded to remain in place (aloft) for another hour, who replies: 'the machine is not fitted with skyhooks' "... Dennett goes on to explain "The skyhook concept is perhaps a descendant of the deus ex machina of ancient Greek dramaturgy: when second-rate playwrights found their heroes into inescapable difficulties, they were often tempted to crank down a god onto the scene, like Superman, to save the situation supernaturally. ... Skyhooks would be wonderful things to have, great for lifting unwieldy objects out of difficult circumstances, and speeding up all sorts of construction projects. Sad to say, they are impossible." (DDI, p74). Ultimately, skyhooks are the Lockeian "mind-first" processes that often disregard that apparent design is the result of mindless mechanism.