Daniel C. Dennett
Co-Director, Center for Cognitive Studies, Tufts University

Daniel C. Dennett

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."

Archive: Daniel C. Dennett

Teach Our Children Well

All major religious and non-religious groups would be invited to propose self-portraits, in effect, of their traditions, including all the material they would want others to know about them, within agreed-upon length limits.

By Daniel C. Dennett | September 1, 2009; 12:16 PM ET | Comments (7)

You Want Facts or Feelings?

This question should not be seen as a matter of personal conviction or opinion at all. People’s hunches, anecdotal recollections, or personal convictions are of no more weight here than they would be about the causes of global warming.

By Daniel C. Dennett | June 13, 2008; 10:14 AM ET | Comments (123)

Candidates' Religious Hypocrisy Won't Stand

I don't want my candidates to lie, but I also don't want them to lose.

By Daniel C. Dennett | February 7, 2008; 07:54 PM ET | Comments (148)

Muslims Must Demand Free Speech

The time has come for Muslims to step up to the plate and demonstrate that Islam is a great faith that has no need for violence or intimidation to maintain the loyalty of its congregation.

By Daniel C. Dennett | February 4, 2008; 08:18 AM ET | Comments (94)

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?

By Daniel C. Dennett | August 30, 2007; 08:56 AM ET | Comments (227)

Teach Our Children Well

There are plenty of checks and balances available to prevent religions from censoring shameful but undeniable truths on the one hand, and to prevent religions from ganging up to vilify minority religions on the other hand.

By Daniel C. Dennett | March 8, 2007; 08:38 AM ET | Comments (43)

'God' or 'Allah'?

I for one would be amused to hear some of our more sanctimonious politicians trying not to choke as they thanked Allah for all the blessings He has bestowed on the United States.

By Daniel C. Dennett | January 30, 2007; 11:23 AM ET | Comments (49)

Relying on Faith Instead of Facts Brought Moral Calamity

Nothing has done more to discredit religious faith in recent years than the self-righteous overconfidence with which our leaders have “listened to God” instead of listening to the knowledgeable secular advisors who warned them, repeatedly, of the follies they were embarking on.

By Daniel C. Dennett | January 13, 2007; 03:45 PM ET | Comments (51)

Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

As long as those who are believers will acknowledge that their allegiance gives them no privilege, no direct line to the absolute truth, no advantage in moral insight, we should be able to get along just fine.

By Daniel C. Dennett | December 30, 2006; 11:07 AM ET | Comments (1244)

Protecting Democracy Comes Before Promoting Faith

It ought to be that anybody who declares that their allegiance to their religion comes before their allegiance to democracy is simply unelectable

By Daniel C. Dennett | December 13, 2006; 05:00 PM ET | Comments (304)

The Gift of Perspective

A religion that thrives in an atmosphere of shared knowledge deserves to thrive; a religion that depends on enforced ignorance deserves to go extinct.

By Daniel C. Dennett | December 8, 2006; 12:38 PM ET | Comments (77)

Thank Goodness Not God on Thanksgiving

We nonbelievers have no difficulty with Thanksgiving; we just Eliminate the Middleman

By Daniel C. Dennett | November 22, 2006; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (252)

No Vegetables, Please

So what if the Bible, or the Quran, says something? Since not everybody accepts that these texts are infallible, citing them as if they were is just rude

By Daniel C. Dennett | November 14, 2006; 06:00 PM ET | Comments (416)

 
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