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Birth and Early Life
Author, philosopher and secular humanist, Daniel Dennett was born 28 March 1942 in Boston Massachusetts. He was attracted to philosophy at age 11 and was determined to pursue a career in philosophy. -
Education
After completing one year at Wesleyan University, Daniel received his Bachelors Degree from Harvard University in 1963. -
Professional Beginnings
Daniel Dennett received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from Oxford University and began his professional career by teaching at UC Irvine, where he served 6 years. -
Tufts University
Daniel began his professorship at the University of Tufts, where he presently resides. Most of his teachings revolve around the philosophy of science, mind, and fields relating to cognitive science and evolutionary biology. -
Brainstorms
Dennett published his first book "Brainstorms: Philosophical essays on mind and psychology" in 1978. This book contains a collection of essays written by Dennett, where he discusses the theory of mind, consciousness and free will -
Consciousness Explained
During the early 90's Dennett became fascinated by the contrasting brains of humans and animals. His acclaimed book "Consciousness Explained" was released in 1991. This provided a comprehensive analysis of the cognitive makeup of the human brain. -
Greatest Work
Regarded as Dennett's single greatest work, "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" was published in 1995. Here, Daniel purposes that natural selection is a mechanical and algorithmic process upon the Darwinian evolutionary process. This book was later nominated for the National book award in 1995.
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Humanist of the year
Daniel Dennett was nominated Humanist of the year for 2004 by the American Humanist Association. Awards from the American Humanist Association are given to recognize specific accomplishments that advance humanism in various scientific disciplines, as well as in the arts, in politics, and in modern culture. The Humanist of the Year award and the Lifetime Achievement award recognize the accomplishments and work of the individuals reflecting humanist values. -
Erasmus Prize
Dennett was awarded the Erasmus prize for his contributions in translating the cultural significance of science and technology to a wide range audience. The Erasmus Prize is an annual prize awarded by the Praemium Erasmianum Foundation to individuals or institutions that have made exceptional contributions to culture, society, or social science in Europe and the rest of the world. It is one of Europe's most distinguished recognitions. -
Present Day
As of 2017, Dennett is the co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies and the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University. Daniels life has been dedicated to exploring cognitive thought and its relation to the world. His works have not only greatly impacted numerous fields of study but have impacted humans and our pursuit to answer the question, "How did we get here"?
