A systematic and thorough interpretation of the philosophy of Daniel Dennett, this book is a tantalizing entrée into the philosophy of mind. Manifestly, we human beings are conscious, thinking, free and responsible agents. However, science has revealed that we are also natural products of evolution, composed of simple biochemical components which are arranged in complex self-maintaining configurations. How do these two aspects of humanity coincide?
Tadeusz Zawidzki outlines Dennett’s reconciliation of three major components - thought, consciousness, and freedom of the will – with what science tells us about human nature. In the course of this exposition, the book highlights the important role that Darwinian thinking plays in Dennett’s proposed reconciliation, as well as his innovative proposals regarding the ‘reality’ of our consciousness and its attributes.
An insightful introduction to Dennett’s thought, this work will prove invaluable to interested readers, students, and scholars alike.
