For instance, his example using white space and the cubes. Rather than seek a "scientific" explanation for his case, I would suggest that any real illusion with colors and white space derives from a Western, Judea-Christian way of seeing things and creating order. Ask yourself: since when did the colors white or black become definitive colors to which we organize everything else spatially? Since a Western way of thinking took shape, with a primacy for writing in ordered, straight lines on a clean or blank (white) surface. In this case, I don't think his experiment points to any grand truth about the human mind and consciousness. His experiments are ultimately culturally bound, and they should apply to only the West.

Another example: suppose you delivered this lecture to a non-Western audience, putting it into their language fluently, maybe Quetchua. Would his conclusions remain the same for people whose worldview and way of seeing and being is not heavily dominated by Western standards? I seriously doubt it.

But it's a clever little show.

Also, I’m a bit confused about what different people mean by “consciousness”.
Some of versions are — awareness of selves, perception, even up to “awareness of own culture” or something (“political consciousness”).

The world is too complex for our brain to understand, too much information to process at once, this is why our mind filter things and interfere with the way we "see". I guess that in time, we will be able to process more and more information, to really experience the world and its wonders.

My blog post on it:
http://www.logblo.com/2008/10/30/GreatLectureDanDennettCanWeKnowOurOwnMinds.aspx

Brian, your judgement seems a bit quick... Do you really know the people you are criticizing so sharply ?

What it really comes down to is discerning thought from awareness.

I love how these "philosophers" all reference each other, and never look to spiritual traditions (buddhism, yoga, etc) that have been explaining this stuff in very simple terms for thousands of years.

For example, Eckhart Tolle has broken down the whole mind/consciousness/awareness/identity thing to Westerners in a way that none of these busy little philosophers will ever be able to do, as long as they are trapped in their little thought buckets.

Is the trick being tricked? A strange loop? =P