Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life - Hardcover

Dennett, Daniel C.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0713990902 ISBN 13: 9780713990904

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

In Consciousness Explained, Daniel C Dennett insists on the importance of considering consciousness from the evolutionary point of view. Darwin's Dangerous Idea elaborates upon his theory of the evolution of consciousness, but also compendiously presents his views on the nature and significance of evolutionary thinking. The eponymous dangerous idea is, of course, the idea of evolution by natural selection, which Dennett esteems as "the single best idea anyone has ever had." When the theory is applied to Homo sapiens, however, the result threatens to be "the universal acid" eating through everything of value and leaving nothing in its place. One of Dennett's prime concerns is to argue that evolutionary explanations can demystify without destroying.

Darwin's Dangerous Idea is divided into three parts. In the first part, "Starting in the Middle", Dennett places the idea of evolution by natural selection in its historical context, then explains it in his characteristically vivacious style. In the second part, "Darwinian Thinking in Biology", he critically examines challenges to Darwin's idea. Connoisseurs of intellectual controversy will especially relish chapter 10 ("Bully for Brontosaurus"), in which Stephen Jay Gould is castigated for misleadingly presenting his views as radical and anti-Darwinian. Finally, in the third part, Dennett discusses the implications of Darwinian thinking for "Mind, Meaning, Mathematics, and Morality." Among the luminaries targeted here are Noam Chomsky and Roger Penrose. Throughout, Dennett manages to synthesise information from many different fields into one unified view of life and its meaning. Writing with style and wit, he again shows that he merits his reputation as one of the best popularisers of science. --Glenn Branch

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."

Edition details

• Publisher: Allen Lane
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0713990902
• ISBN 13: 9780713990904
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 592