Darwin's idea of natural selection makes people uncomfortable because it reverses the direction of tradition. Daniel Dennett darwindirectionidea Change image and share on social
Some of the greatest, most revolutionary advances in science have been given their initial expression in attractively modest terms, with no fanfare. Daniel Dennett advanceattractivelyexpression Change image and share on social
I think many people are terribly afraid of being demoted by the Darwinian scheme from the role of authors and creators in their own right into being just places where things happen in the universe. Daniel Dennett afraidauthorcreator Change image and share on social
As every scuba diver knows, panic is your worst enemy: when it hits, your mind starts to thrash and you are likely to do something really stupid and self-destructive. Daniel Dennett baddestructivediver Change image and share on social
We adore babies because they're so cute. And, of course, we are amused by jokes because they are funny. This is all backwards. It is. And Darwin shows us why. Daniel Dennett adoreamusebaby Change image and share on social
The problem is that no ethical system has ever achieved consensus. Ethical systems are completely unlike mathematics or science. This is a source of concern. Daniel Dennett achievecompletelyconcern Change image and share on social
The secret of happiness is: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it. Daniel Dennett dedicatefindhappiness Change image and share on social
If the history of resistance to Darwinian thinking is a good measure, we can expect that long into the future, long after every triumph of human thought has been matched or surpassed by 'mere machines,' there will still be thinkers who insist that the human mind works in mysterious ways that no science can comprehend. Daniel Dennett comprehenddarwinianexpect share on social
Human freedom is not an illusion; it is an objective phenomenon, distinct from all other biological conditions and found in only one species - us. Daniel Dennett biologicalconditiondistinct Change image and share on social
In 50 years - or 20 years, or 200 years - our current epistemic horizon (the Big Bang, roughly) may look as parochial as the horizon Newton had to settle for in his day, but no doubt there will still be good questions whose answers elude us. Daniel Dennett answerbangbig share on social