- Paperback: 586 pages
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st Touchstone Ed edition (1 Jun 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 068482471X
- ISBN-13: 978-0684824710
- Product Dimensions: 23.5 x 15.7 x 2.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 583,891 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Carl Sagan "The Washington Post Book World" A breath of fresh air.
Product Description
In this groundbreaking and very accessible book, Daniel C. Dennett, the acclaimed author of Consciousness Explained, demonstrates the power of the theory of natural selection and shows how Darwin's great idea transforms and illuminates our traditional view of our place in the universe. Following Darwinian thinking to its logical conclusions is a risky business, with pitfalls for everybody. Creationists and others who reject evolution are not the only ones to fall into the traps. Many who accept the validity of Darwin's conclusions hesitate before their implications and distort his theory, fearful that it is politically incorrect or antireligious, or that it robs life of all spirituality. Dennett explains the scientific theory of natural selection in vivid terms, and shows how it extends far beyond biology.
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We used to sing a lot when I was a child, around the campfire at summer camp, at school and Sunday school, or gathered around the piano at home. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
We used to sing a lot when I was a child, around the campfire at summer camp, at school and Sunday school, or gathered around the piano at home. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Well, when a reader has to call the author a "vile little fascist" to make his point (see Aug. 25 review), you know the book has shaken some cherished foundations of traditional wisdom. This book is one of the high points of human thought. Armed only with clean, sharp logic, it is a courageous venture into reality.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dennett states his thesis unequivocally: "If I were to give an award for the single best idea
anyone ever had, I'd give it to Darwin . . ." Newton, Einstein, Galileo and Copernicus all
helped topple humanity from its self created egocentric pedestal. None of these, however,
had the universal impact of Darwin's idea of natural selection through change over time. The
mechanism of biological evolution, as Dennett points out, has spread to every science from
cosmology to atomic physics in a single century. This achievement demands we understand
the Idea fully. Dennett has provided us with inspiration to perform that study, offering us
excellent guidelines to assist in the task. This is an excellent and valuable book.
anyone ever had, I'd give it to Darwin . . ." Newton, Einstein, Galileo and Copernicus all
helped topple humanity from its self created egocentric pedestal. None of these, however,
had the universal impact of Darwin's idea of natural selection through change over time. The
mechanism of biological evolution, as Dennett points out, has spread to every science from
cosmology to atomic physics in a single century. This achievement demands we understand
the Idea fully. Dennett has provided us with inspiration to perform that study, offering us
excellent guidelines to assist in the task. This is an excellent and valuable book.
Dennett coins or adopts a few "catch phrases" to help us understand how the Idea works. In
presenting Darwin's thesis in a historical context, Dennett offers the term "universal acid,"
showing how "change over time" toppled firmly held beliefs. "Universal acid" has been
seized upon by numerous critics in the media arguing that Darwin's Idea eroded beliefs
without providing replacements. Dennett counters this charge, declaring that rigorously
investigated natural events will lead to the establishment of new, realistic values. He accepts
the comforting value of faith, but will not concede its insistence on possession of truth. Truth
is achieved by investigative effort, not granted by divine revelation.
He utilizes a familiar term, "algorithm" in explaining how the evolutionary process works
through the language of DNA. To Dennett, an algorithm is a "stupid piece of information"
since it does nothing itself. However, the algorithm is easy to understand and reliable in any
environment enabling it to perform. In evolution, algorithms represent the step by step
process through which groups of individuals become new species. Another of his terms, "the
crane," relies on the algorithmic idea, which are the foundation on which cranes rely. Cranes,
of course, are building tools. In evolution, cranes rest on previous conditions, building up
new forms through the adaptive process. It's a terribly slow and inefficient method, but over
time it works. The proof is that you're reading this now.
This book is a most thorough effort to address Darwin's idea in a philosophic framework.
Not a biological text, DDI urges us to reconsider our values in light of the realities Darwin's
Idea. Dennett want us to think logically and clearly without resorting to easy answers and
taking shortcuts in arriving at conclusions. He achieves this with finesse, tempered with a
fine wit to sustain our attention. It's a readable and challenging work, conveying meaningful
concepts for furthering human progress. More significantly, it's a most valuable work. Only
Darwin's Origin transcends it in impact on shaping values. In a world where Harry Potter
books are banned from churches for being "soft on witchcraft" and evolution is given short
shrift in public schools, it's clear that Dennett's theme requires greater attention.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dennett carefully sets out a masterful rebuttal to all those who feel that theories based upon substantiated evidence are somehow insufficient to explain the biological phenomena on this planet. He succeeds with a scholarly panache. He shows the beauty of evolution's algorithmic path and wittily demolishes any attempts to invoke the soul,the spirit world or any other irrelevant skyhook. What is important is to build one's theories from the ground upwards, to use cranes rather than these semi-creationist skyhooks. He is,like Richard Dawkins, captivated by his subject and he writes with similar gusto and verve. This is awe-inspiring stuff and you are left at the end both breathless and inspired.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Evolution Revolution
"Darwin's Dangerous Idea" by Daniel C. Dennett is one of the better books on Evolution available. Dennett is probably best known as one of The Four Horsemen (Dawkins, Dennett,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Dave_42
jacques
To me Darwinism appeared as an easy route to follow. This book has become almost 600 pages filled with 44 line, 12 words per line small lettering. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2010 by A beta customer
Comprehensive discussion of the theory of evolution
Daniel C. Dennett's book is worthy of its subject matter. That is to say, beautiful in its essence, but complex in its details. Read more
Published on 14 April 2009 by Rolf Dobelli
Witty, entertaining & educational: one of my favourite books
Provides the reader with a first-class seat to witness, guided by a genuinely clever and informed writing, one of the most beautiful, powerful theories of all times. Read more
Published on 14 Mar 2000 by E. Filloy Garcia
Dennett's dangerous idea?
Daniel Dennett is a very confused fellow. In this volume, he argues that Darwinian natural selection behaves as though it were intelligently designing the living world we all... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 1999
Jump on in, the acid's fine
The universal acid metaphor is interesting but not original. It's been done, and done better by Jacque Monod, Bertrand Russell, George Bernard Shaw, and King Solomon among... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 1999
One of the better books I've read
One could legitimately call Dennett somewhat indulgent in his prose, but I personally didn't mind a bit. Read more
Published on 9 July 1999
Provacative and tantalizing!
Daniel C. Dennett is one of the world's most progressive explorers of the cognitive sciences. He tells us, "Real meaning, the sort of meaning our words and ideas have, is... Read more
Published on 24 Jun 1999
00102035974
fjoinvkj
Published on 21 Jun 1999
One of the best books I've read (&re-read, &re-read)
Definitely one of the most significant books you can crack open these days. Many are put off by his critques of other scientists (example: "He can't say bad things about... Read more
Published on 22 May 1999
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