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Date of Birth
It was on March 28,1942 that Daniel Dennett III was born -
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Lifespan
Daniel C. Dennett - What is Consciousness?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K26fo6QRc_k -
The Mind and the Brain
Daniel Dennett graduated from Oxford University with a doctorates in Philosophy. His dissertation, "The Mind and the Brain : Introspective Description in the Light of Neurological Findings; Intentionality," was a long, well thought-out paper on how the mind and the brain effect and build off of one another, as well as how these two things tie into consciousness. -
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Impact on Philosophy
Over the course of his philosophical tenure, Daniel Dennett has contributed mainly to psychological and religious philosophy. He has presented original theories of his own, expanded upon existing theories, conducted interdisciplinary thought experiments, looked towards the future and utilized it in his arguments, and passed all of his knowledge to the next generation of philosophers as a teacher and with his many books. He has undoubtedly had a profound impact on the fields he focused on. -
Consciousness Explained
It was on this date that Daniel Dennett published his first major Philosophical book, "Consciousness Explained". The book is an account of how consciousness arises from interaction of physical and cognitive processes in the brain. He uses his unique "Multiple Drafts" theory of consciousness to depict the brain as an academic paper being developed or edited in the hands of multiple people at any given time. This was his first notable work and brought his name to the forefront of psychology. -
Darwin's Dangerous Idea
It was on this date that Daniel Dennett published "Darwin's Dangerous Idea : Evolution and the Meanings of Life". The book was not meant to be a scientific work, rather an interdisciplinary one. He expressed his concerns on how Darwin's theory of Evolution had presented the idea that there is no need for a "designer," and that this ideal has and will remain whether his theory is overturned or not. -
Breaking the Spell
It was on this date that Daniel Dennett published the Philosophical book, "Breaking the Spell : Religion as a Natural Phenomenon". The book argues that religion is in need of scientific analysis so that its nature and future may be better understood. The "spell" that requires "breaking" is not religious belief itself, but the idea that religion is exempt from or beyond scientific inquiry.