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Introduction and Early Life of Dennett
Born on March 28th, 1942, in Boston Massachusetts Dennet is a philosopher of science, author, and college professor with a well-established seating in the philosophical community. He deals primarily in mind and body philosophy firmly believing both must be in check in order to live a healthy life. He has dedicated most of his study to consciousness and its definition as well as even working toward developing a conscious robot. -
Writings and Books
Dennetts first book was published in 1969 named Content and Consciousness this earned him a D.Phil and sets the problems of the mind and sets the parameters that someone analysis the mind would follow. From then until 2017 he has written 11 books and hundreds of articles for scientific magazines and websites. Some of his more notable books are Darwins Dangerous Idea (1995), Consciousness Explained (1991), and Sweet Dreams: Philosophical Obstacles to a Science of Consciousness (2005). -
Main Body of Work
If you can't tell by now Dennetts work evolved around mind and consciousness, he was devoted to breaking down the barriers that only humans can have one and even working on artificial intelligence. In 1993 he started a project with the Massachusetts Institue of Technology to develop an intelligent robot aware of itself with a full spectrum of feelings and emotions named Cog. He wrote many papers devoted to the production of the robot and work still continues to this day. -
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Views on Religion
Dennett was a self-proclaimed atheist, his 2006 book Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon gave evolutionary explanation against religious thought. He stated that religion was a by-product of human evolutionary social phenomenon. For example, it led their intent to where it could not be scientifically proven leading him to believe it was a nonscience so therefore not applicable for real research. (A purest at heart) -
Present Time
No longer a fulltime professor he still works with the University of Sante Fe and New College of Humanities in London. He resides in Maine on an estate with his wife, children, and grandchildren continuing his work to the present day.