Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution And the Meanings of Life - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0670869570 ISBN 13: 9780670869572

Publisher: Allen Lane, 1995

Synopsis

The author examines the history of debate about Darwin's theory of evolution, focussing on particular dramas in the debate up to the present day, in an attempt to explain why the theory has caused such heated dissention among scientists, sociologists, and philosophers. He compares the various strains of doctrine competing for our allegiance, as well as locating the arguments in their philosophical and moral contexts. The book helps to uncover the motives of the participants, from creationists to sociologists.

About this title

Review

Carl Sagan

"The Washington Post Book World"

A breath of fresh air.

John Gribbin

"Sunday Times," London

This is the best single-author overview of all the implications of evolution by natural selection available....Lucid and entertaining.

Richard Dawkins

author of "The Blind Watchmaker"

A surpassingly brilliant book. Where creative, it lifts the reader to new intellectual heights. Where critical, it is devastating.

James Moore

coauthor of "Darwin"

A brilliant piece of persuasion, excitingly argued and compulsively readable. Its lucid metaphors and charming analogies are reminiscent of "On the Origin of Species."

Jim Holt

"The Wall Street Journal"

Dennett is a philosopher of rare originality, rigor, and wit. Here he does one of the things philosophers are supposed to be good at: clearing up conceptual muddles in the sciences.

Richard Rorty

"Lingua Franca"

One of our most original and most readable philosophers....Once in a blue moon an analytic philosopher comes along who redeems his subdiscipline by combining professional persnicketiness with a romantic spirit, a vivid imagination, and a sense of humor.

Carl Sagan"The Washington Post Book World"A breath of fresh air.

John Gribbin"Sunday Times," LondonThis is the best single-author overview of all the implications of evolution by natural selection available....Lucid and entertaining.

Richard Dawkinsauthor of "The Blind Watchmaker"A surpassingly brilliant book. Where creative, it lifts the reader to new intellectual heights. Where critical, it is devastating.

James Moorecoauthor of "Darwin"A brilliant piece of persuasion, excitingly argued and compulsively readable. Its lucid metaphors and charming analogies are reminiscent of "On the Origin of Species."

Jim Holt"The Wall Street Journal"Dennett is a philosopher of rare originality, rigor, and wit. Here he does one of the things philosophers are supposed to be good at: clearing up conceptual muddles in the sciences.

Richard Rorty"Lingua Franca"One of our most original and most readable philosophers....Once in a blue moon an analytic philosopher comes along who redeems his subdiscipline by combining professional persnicketiness with a romantic spirit, a vivid imagination, and a sense of humor.

Jim Holt "The Wall Street Journal" Dennett is a philosopher of rare originality, rigor, and wit. Here he does one of the things philosophers are supposed to be good at: clearing up conceptual muddles in the sciences.

Richard Rorty "Lingua Franca" One of our most original and most readable philosophers....Once in a blue moon an analytic philosopher comes along who redeems his subdiscipline by combining professional persnicketiness with a romantic spirit, a vivid imagination, and a sense of humor.

James Moore coauthor of "Darwin" A brilliant piece of persuasion, excitingly argued and compulsively readable. Its lucid metaphors and charming analogies are reminiscent of "On the Origin of Species."

John Gribbin "Sunday Times, " London This is the best single-author overview of all the implications of evolution by natural selection available....Lucid and entertaining.

Richard Dawkins author of "The Blind Watchmaker" A surpassingly brilliant book. Where creative, it lifts the reader to new intellectual heights. Where critical, it is devastating.

Carl Sagan "The Washington Post Book World" A breath of fresh air.

James Moore coauthor of Darwin A brilliant piece of persuasion, excitingly argued and compulsively readable. Its lucid metaphors and charming analogies are reminiscent of On the Origin of Species.

Carl Sagan The Washington Post Book World A breath of fresh air.

Richard Dawkins author of The Blind Watchmaker A surpassingly brilliant book. Where creative, it lifts the reader to new intellectual heights. Where critical, it is devastating.

Richard Rorty Lingua Franca One of our most original and most readable philosophers....Once in a blue moon an analytic philosopher comes along who redeems his subdiscipline by combining professional persnicketiness with a romantic spirit, a vivid imagination, and a sense of humor.

John Gribbin Sunday Times, London This is the best single-author overview of all the implications of evolution by natural selection available....Lucid and entertaining.

Jim Holt The Wall Street Journal Dennett is a philosopher of rare originality, rigor, and wit. Here he does one of the things philosophers are supposed to be good at: clearing up conceptual muddles in the sciences.

About the Author

Daniel Dennett is the author of Brainstorms, Elbow Room, and Consciousness Explained. He is currently the Distinguished Arts and Sciences Professor and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. He lives in North Andover, Massachusetts, with his wife and has two children.

Edition details

• Publisher: Allen Lane
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0670869570
• ISBN 13: 9780670869572
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 592