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Daniel Dennett was the first born child of Ruth Marjorie and Daniel Clement Dennett Jr. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts. His father was a covert counter-intelligence agent with the Office of Strategic Services, where he posed as a cultural attache to the American Embassy in Beirut. In 1947, his parents had one daughter named Charlotte Dennett.
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Dennett graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, located in Exeter, New Hampshire. A coeducational independent school for day students in grades 9 through 12. It offered postgraduate programs. It is one of the oldest secondary schools in the United States.
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His first year was spent at a private liberal arts college, Wesleyan University. He then transferred to Harvard University and was a student of an American philosopher Willard Van Orman Quine. He received his Bachelor's of Arts in philosophy.
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Dennett studied under Gilbert Ryle. He received his Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford.
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This book discusses the nature of consciousness. Dennett worked to develop a theory of the human mind and consciousness, from new challenging advances, which in time would be known as cognitive science.
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He is a author to many books, Content and Consciousness (1969), Brainstorms: Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology (1981), Elbow Room (1984), Consciousness Explained (1991), Darwin's Dangerous Idea (1995),Freedom Evolves (2003), Breaking the Spell (2006), From Bacteria to Bach and Back (2017).
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His most notable work, "free will", Dennett argues that the varieties of free will worth wanting. He uses a two-stage model from a libertarian views. Which includes making an important decision, calling it a consideration generator. Decision that one immediately rejects as irrelevant. Then looks at other possibilities through reasoning process, ultimately serve as predictors of one's final decision.
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In this book he provides a comprehensive analysis on the physical and cognitive makeup of the human brain.
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Dennett worked with the team at MIT, on the attempt to construct an intelligent possible conscious robot called Cog. He saw a danger in a machine performing basic tasks in perception, memory, and mathematical computations. He knew going into this project, that it was impossible to give consciousness to a robot. However, anytime you do a project of this magnitude there is always something to learn.
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His book focuses on the theory of natural selection. Showcasing Darwin's views on humanity's place in the universe. Dennett explains the theory and extends Darwin's vision with impeccable arguments to there conclusions. Challenging the views of famous scientist of our day.
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Jean Nicod Prize (2001), Mind & Brain Prize (2011), Erasmus Prize (2012)
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He was named the Humanist of the Year by the American Humanist Association, which is a non-profit organization in the United States that advances secular humanism. Affirms the ability and responsibility of human beings that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
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Dennett examines religion scientifically. Asking the questions how and why. He attempts to explain religious beliefs coming from social behavior. He looks at religious as a natural phenomenon. He is also referred to as one of the "Four Horseman of New Atheism". He has also been researching clerics who are secretly atheists and how they justify their work.
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He was named to the Freedom From Religion Foundation's Honorary Board of distinguished achievers.
FFRF promotes the separation of church and state, to educate the public on matters relating to atheism, agnosticism, and non-theism. -
He was awarded an honorary degree for his contributions to and influence on cross-disciplinary science.
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Dennett's contribution to science and philosophy was neuroscience, cognitive philosophy, and consciousness. A lot of his work was to understand the connection between the physical nature of the brain and consciousness.Free will is a large portion of his studies, and probably the most talked about. He has argued that "only by being informed by science could one have a productive philosophical debate about the mind and find a solution to the mind-body problem."
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Daniel Dennett on free will.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joCOWaaTj4A Accessed May 4, 2019.
Daniel Dennett Explains Consciousness and Free Will
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Nj_rEqkyQ Accessed May , 2019. -
Work Cited:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Dennett#Early_life,_education,_and_career Accessed May 4, 2019
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Humanist_Association Accessed May 4, 2019
http://www.informationphilosopher.com/solutions/philosophers/dennett/ Accessed May 4, 2019
