Some cultural phenomena bear a striking resemblance to the cells of cell biology, actively preserving themselves in their social environments, finding the nutrients they need and fending off the causes of their dissolution. Daniel Dennett activelybearbiology 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
A child raised on a desert island, alone, without social interaction, without language, and thus lacking empathy, is still a sentient being. Daniel Dennett childdesertempathy 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
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
Now that mobile phones and the internet have altered the epistemic selective landscape in a revolutionary way, every religious organisation must scramble to evolve defences or become extinct. Daniel Dennett alterdefenceepistemic 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
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
I don't think the 9/11 attacks taught us anything we didn't already know about religion. It has long been obvious - even to the deeply religious - that religious fanaticism is an extremely dangerous deranger of otherwise sane and goodhearted people. Daniel Dennett attackdangerousdeeply share on social