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konniecanread's review
2.5
He explains evolution and it's general consequences pretty well, but the pacing and editing is terrible and he never really gets to the interesting questions. When he does finally get to the interesting bits (consciousness, morality) he doesn't even properly define what he's talking about. This upset me.
ummon's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Exceptional survey of Darwinian thought with some ambitious (but careful) extrapolations. Highly recommended for anyone looking to expand their understanding of evolutionary theory and the history of discussions about it.
“God is in the details”
“God is in the details”
mattbgold's review
4.0
Good stuff! ^o^
- It's Darwinism explored from the viewpoint of a philosopher!
- Dennett is basically a factory for creating useful devices that help you structure the way you think about the world.
Not so good stuff.. >_<
- Just awful editing, pacing, etc... had the same issues with another one of Dennett's books so I'm starting to think this is just how he writes.
- So freaking long! (see above)
- It's Darwinism explored from the viewpoint of a philosopher!
- Dennett is basically a factory for creating useful devices that help you structure the way you think about the world.
Not so good stuff.. >_<
- Just awful editing, pacing, etc... had the same issues with another one of Dennett's books so I'm starting to think this is just how he writes.
- So freaking long! (see above)
micheleheather's review
4.0
The word "Dangerous" in the title refers to all the ways that Darwin's ideas have shaken up science, religion and the world of thinking.
This book first describes in detail exactly what evolution IS (I thought I understood it well, then realized when I began to read that I didn't at all, then came to think I understand it again by the end of the book). Dennett gives a good survey of many ideas about evolution that are out there, including some that he believes are false. Then the book explores how evolution applies to the human mind, the process of thinking and language.
A very detailed and involved read - it took me months to finish in and among other books I was reading - but I'm glad I stuck with it and finished it. Very informative.
This book first describes in detail exactly what evolution IS (I thought I understood it well, then realized when I began to read that I didn't at all, then came to think I understand it again by the end of the book). Dennett gives a good survey of many ideas about evolution that are out there, including some that he believes are false. Then the book explores how evolution applies to the human mind, the process of thinking and language.
A very detailed and involved read - it took me months to finish in and among other books I was reading - but I'm glad I stuck with it and finished it. Very informative.
thattommyhall's review against another edition
4.0
Dan Dennett is one author who has genuinely changed my view of the word. Till I read a wonderful short piece by him called "Where am I?" I had written off philosophy and took the view "if you want to know how the mind works, ask a neuroscientist". Dan is remarkably lucid on philosophy of mind, free will and evolution. He is both an "intellectual plumber" --doing that work that the best philosophers do, patching leaks in peoples thinking-- and a great communicator - understanding, consolidating and enthusiastically passing on knowledge in a field not his main expertise (not that you would notice without him owning up frequently).
This is the third in a sequence: Consciousness Explained, Darwins Dangerous Idea and Freedom Evolves. These, along with his earlier works Elbow Room and The Intentional Stance are a superbly compelling explanation of how we come to have free will without any mysterian views about how special consciousness in the species Homo Sapien Sapien must be and accepting that we live in a deterministic universe.
This book in particular is a very good survey of modern evolutionary theory, not the ideal first book but great if you are familiar with the topic. He is a believer in the neo-darwinian synthesis perhaps best espoused by Richard Dawkins. He takes as his central metaphor the difference between cranes (just doing some lifting obeying the laws of physics, however complex they are) and sky hooks (magical lifting devices that do not permit/require explanation). Along the way he rebuts Stephen Jay Gould's attempts to cast himself as the leader of some revolution or other in biology, Roger Penroses misuse of Godels theorem to link two mysteries together (quantum indeterminacy and consciousness) and does a defence of a meme-based approach to culture. All in all a superb, if somewhat challenging, book.
As an aside, one of the really great things about Dennett is the range and number of citations. He must read nearly all of the relevant literature and makes wonderful use of literary and philosophical references as well - it was a Dennett reference that first brought Jorge Luis Borges to my attention and encouraged me to learn more about David Hume.
A superb book, I recommend it for all with some familiarity with the wonderful theory of evolution ready to explore some of the subtleties and prepare themselves for Freedom Evolves.
This is the third in a sequence: Consciousness Explained, Darwins Dangerous Idea and Freedom Evolves. These, along with his earlier works Elbow Room and The Intentional Stance are a superbly compelling explanation of how we come to have free will without any mysterian views about how special consciousness in the species Homo Sapien Sapien must be and accepting that we live in a deterministic universe.
This book in particular is a very good survey of modern evolutionary theory, not the ideal first book but great if you are familiar with the topic. He is a believer in the neo-darwinian synthesis perhaps best espoused by Richard Dawkins. He takes as his central metaphor the difference between cranes (just doing some lifting obeying the laws of physics, however complex they are) and sky hooks (magical lifting devices that do not permit/require explanation). Along the way he rebuts Stephen Jay Gould's attempts to cast himself as the leader of some revolution or other in biology, Roger Penroses misuse of Godels theorem to link two mysteries together (quantum indeterminacy and consciousness) and does a defence of a meme-based approach to culture. All in all a superb, if somewhat challenging, book.
As an aside, one of the really great things about Dennett is the range and number of citations. He must read nearly all of the relevant literature and makes wonderful use of literary and philosophical references as well - it was a Dennett reference that first brought Jorge Luis Borges to my attention and encouraged me to learn more about David Hume.
A superb book, I recommend it for all with some familiarity with the wonderful theory of evolution ready to explore some of the subtleties and prepare themselves for Freedom Evolves.
car0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
ajith_wordshaker's review
2.0
Expected some idea which uncovers the mystery behind the evolution and the very existence of humans and other species on earth. But I got a 600 page essay, where I can't find anything interesting or useful related to evolution.
rhyslindmark's review
3.0
This was excellent, but it's tough to give it the full five stars.
The first 1/3 is a great overview of Darwinian evolution, full of classic Dennett intuition pumps.
The remaining 2/3rds is Dennett engaging in long philosophical debates with contemporaries from the 1990s. It's speckled with a few highlights, like how ethics evolved.
Read the first 1/3rd and skim the remainder.
The first 1/3 is a great overview of Darwinian evolution, full of classic Dennett intuition pumps.
The remaining 2/3rds is Dennett engaging in long philosophical debates with contemporaries from the 1990s. It's speckled with a few highlights, like how ethics evolved.
Read the first 1/3rd and skim the remainder.