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Daniel C. Dennett

Co-Director, Center for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University

Daniel C. Dennett is the Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy, and Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies, at Tufts University. His most recent book was Breaking the Spell (2006). The “On Faith” panelist also is Co-founder of the Curricular Software Studio at Tufts, and has helped design museum exhibits on computers for the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Science in Boston, and the Computer Museum in Boston. Dennett has written over 300 scholarly articles on various aspects of the mind in scientific journals. His first book, Content and Consciousness, appeared in 1969. It was followed by Brainstorms (1978), Elbow Room (1984), The Intentional Stance (1987), Consciousness Explained (1991), Darwin's Dangerous Idea (1995), Kinds of Minds (1996), and Brainchildren: A Collection of Essays 1984-1996 (1998). He co-edited The Mind's I with Douglas Hofstadter in 1981. Dennett completed his D.Phil degree work under Gilbert Ryle at Oxford in 1965, and has lectured at Harvard University, Pittsburgh and the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. He has received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Science. In 1987 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He spends most of his summers on his farm in Maine, where he harvests blueberries, hay and timber, and makes Normandy cider wine, when he is not sailing. He is also a sculptor. Close.

Daniel C. Dennett

Co-Director, Center for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University

Main Page | Daniel C. Dennett Archives | On Faith Archives

The Agony of Misplaced Ecstasy

How many millions of priests, pastors, rabbis, imams, nuns and monks around the world are living lives of similar duplicity?

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All Comments (212)

Idon'tknowandyoudon'teither:

It amazes me that people like Mr. Dennett, Sam Harris, and the ringleader, Richard Dawkins, are so convinced there is no God with the same certainty that billions of believers have that there is a God or gods or whatever. Actually, I find it the height of intellectual arrogance to not be able to admit that there are certain things in life that can never be answered in any linear, logical, or any other way. As my surname suggests, to all of you intellectually self-satisfied know-it-alls, you really don't know and I don't either.

May 9, 2008 3:19 PM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on May 9, 2008 15:19

sweeta-pd:

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Jane.

March 27, 2008 2:17 AM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on March 27, 2008 02:17

sweeta-pd:

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Jane.

March 27, 2008 2:17 AM | Report Offensive Comments

Posted on March 27, 2008 02:17

Iriska-kq:

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February 9, 2008 3:46 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Iriska-xy:

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January 26, 2008 7:59 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Iriska-xy:

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January 26, 2008 7:59 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Iriska-xy:

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January 26, 2008 7:59 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Iriska-xy:

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January 26, 2008 7:59 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Iriska-xy:

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January 26, 2008 7:59 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-sn:

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January 25, 2008 1:37 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-sn:

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January 25, 2008 1:37 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-sn:

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January 25, 2008 1:37 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-ku:

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January 24, 2008 1:46 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-nr:

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January 22, 2008 6:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-nr:

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January 22, 2008 6:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-nr:

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January 22, 2008 6:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-nr:

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January 22, 2008 6:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-fn:

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January 21, 2008 4:52 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-fn:

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Oksana-fn:

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January 21, 2008 4:52 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-fn:

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January 21, 2008 4:51 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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January 21, 2008 7:32 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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January 21, 2008 7:32 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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January 21, 2008 7:32 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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January 20, 2008 11:46 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-eb:

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January 20, 2008 11:46 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-eb:

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January 20, 2008 11:45 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-eb:

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January 20, 2008 11:45 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-aj:

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January 19, 2008 10:39 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-aj:

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January 19, 2008 10:39 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-pm:

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January 18, 2008 2:07 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-pm:

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January 18, 2008 2:07 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-pm:

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January 18, 2008 2:07 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-pm:

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January 18, 2008 2:07 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-pm:

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January 18, 2008 2:07 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Michael Bindner:

The problem of spiritual darkness is an old one. Recovered alcoholics solve it by working with other alcoholics. In community, they seem to find the pressence of God in a palpable way.

For others, the experience of spiritual darkness is seen as a test.

I consider the soul a nexus of the physical and spiritual. If the physical part is not taken care of, however, then a spiritual part sufferes. Diet and amino deficiencies or bad blood sugar can lead to anhedonia. I wonder how many of the spiritually dark actually needed to switch to a higher protein diet - or to a personal regimine that includes more sexual expression (since denying this can also lead to anhedonia).

January 18, 2008 11:23 AM | Report Offensive Comments

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January 17, 2008 7:54 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-wr:

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January 17, 2008 7:54 PM | Report Offensive Comments

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Oksana-wr:

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