Daniel Dennett: Horsemen of Atheism

“Daniel Dennett is an American naturalist philosopher specializing in the philosophy of mind,” states his Encyclopedia Britannica entry. “He became a prominent figure in the atheist movement at the beginning of the 21st century.”
Dennett is the is University Professor and Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. He’s the author of several books, including "Breaking the Spell," "Freedom Evolves," "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" and, with Linda La Scola, "Caught in the Pulpit: Leaving Belief Behind."
Learn more about the Freedom From Religion Foundation at ffrf.org.

[@bobh5087]

It's always a great pleasure to hear Dennett speak. A calm and certain voice, full of subtle humor. Many thanks to everyone.

[@radiolabworks]

Always wonderful to listen to Daniel Dennett.

[@JonathanRootD]

Nice to have Dan Dennet on.

[@ntr10me]

The 'bright' term is such a misfire for such an important notion. Clearly the word 'bright' has a certain connotation that is not conversationally helpful. That said, this dude is a treasure.

[@andydonnelly8677]

Wow, so much simple truth.❤😄👍

[@neilforbes416]

I like that.... If you're atheist, you're a "Bright"! The opposite side of that coin would be, if you're a christian, you're a "dull"! Nice one, Daniel Dennett, nice one indeed!

[@glutinousmaximus]

I could listen to Dan all day! Thanks for another special post :0)

[@markyparky967]

What a lovely man Daniel C Dennet is. And on top of that such an intellectual.

[@neilforbes416]

When Mr Dennett brings in the word, "surely", switches me over to Leslie Nielsen mode.... "Surely you can't be serious.... Yes I am and don't call me Shirley!" LOL

[@samsalamander8147]

I live in an extremely religious household. I live with my friend and my Aunt who is basically both Nuns. We actually have a chapel in my house. My Aunt is consecrated virgin it’s basically an order less Nun. I’m an in the closet atheist because I don’t want to offend them or argue with them and have them think they have to convince me or convert me. I dance around the bush but I never outright say I don’t believe in God. I don’t need the constant confrontation that somthing like that would become. As we are they know not to try to Jesus me to death and I don’t throw in there face that I’m a non believer.

[@chikkipop]

Awww, that's a shame. When I used to visit my relatives in Texas and they'd start their god nonsense I'd fire right back at them. It was fun! And the best part is they were grudgingly respectful, since they knew I could dish it out.

[@timothymulholland7905]

A great Mind and a fine person!

[@barryrichins]

Dan and Annie Laurie, I appreciate the time you take to present another alternative of existence that is not organized religion. Now 82, I resigned from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 8 years ago as a result of cognitive dissonance. My personal integrity finally was in danger: I felt betrayed. I was a missionary, serving 2 1/2 years in Mexico; I married in one of the Mormon temples, I paid a 10% tithe plus other free-will offerings; I had read the Book of Mormon many times, including in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and partly in Italian; I fulfilled my church callings faithfully (mostly). In my professional life I was a Spanish, English, and reading college professor. In my world lit classes I taught section on the Old and New Testaments. I was my deep study of the Bible that destroyed my testimony of Christianity and my deeper study of the Book of Mormon that destroyed my testimony of Mormonism. I came to the conclusion that Mormonism is a cradle of atheism. When I resigned from my church, I felt enlightened, not in a mental sort of way, rather as if a weight had been lifted off me, similar to the weight of someone taking heavy chains off my spirit after my life as a slave of religion. It was your book Godless that I wanted friends to read so that they could relate to how I lost my religious faith. Thank you for that book. Your other book that helped me clarify that I no longer wanted to be associated with Judeo-Christian religion was GOD The Most Unpleasant Character In All Fiction. Before I read the latter, I had read the Bible from cover to cover twice, not to mention the sections I had read separately, yet because of authors like you, Dan, who gather many ideas from the Bible and put them in to books in which I can follow the narrative easily, rather that trying to keep all the things I had read in the Bible in meaningful units. Trying to learn from simply reading the Bible is like trying kill myself with a thousand paper cuts: not very effective. I f you ever want a person to talk with about Mormonism, I and still in compus mentis. This last year I made a comparison of two supposedly contemporaneous civilizations: The Roman in Europe and the Book of Mormon in the Americas. My friend Kerry Shirts, aka as the Backyard professor, invited me to share my thinking with his audience on his podcast, episode 125. Again, Annie Laurie and Dan I appreciate what you do with FFRF, especially try to keep church and state separate, an issue of great concern to me now that Christian Nationalism continues to raise its ugly head. May Zeus and Hera bless you both! Your friend Barry Richins

[@daheikkinen]

The legend himself.

[@rickharold7884]

I always like hearing Dennett Philosophy. Thanks for sharing

[@robertcooper1952]

I really enjoyed this episode with Dan Dennet.

[@dukeallen432]

Great to listen to Dan in various stages on his journey through life.

[@Vadjong]

Well spoken, Gabrielle!

[@jameshalford1180]

dang that chick looks smart

[@Scupple]

Dennett is the shiznit. I remember him from a G4 show from years ago.

[@jgeorge2465]

This site is great just found it.

[@AjitPatel53]

I am a Nuclear Engineer who's never practiced it as a career. I grew up in a Hindu family in Africa. I attended college in LA, when I came across the Self Realization Fellowship temple and read the Autobiography of a Yogi. I started attending the services weekly. I became a believer then although I always had some little doubts. I had listened to arguments of both sides but none convinced me. So I stayed with my belief. Deep inside probably out of fear He/She existed. I am still a believer but looking for a reason to strongly believe.

[@teddy1234599]

Excellent on all 3 participants' parts. Now, how about a "can of worms"? I've been a (highly-moral) atheist since 1967; BUT I SURELY (lol) have no money to donate to any worthy cause, including FFRF. Is there not some way, some "vehicle" for us "dirt-poor retiree-types" to relate to / from FFRF?

[@andreadiamond7115]

How do I get your FFrF newsletter please?

[@dennismiddlebrooks7027]

Go to the website of the "Freedom From Religion Foundation" and request a free copy. You can do it online or you can call their main number. It's a terrific broadsheet newspaper.

[@ronaldmendonca6636]

ffrf.org/

[@eighthgate1420]

We need change and that’s why the atheists are speaking.

[@arjenbootsma6881]

20:15 Don't call me Shirley!

[@KatheeDemontforte]

Couldn't help to be the first commenter of this video. What one book by Dennett will expose a philosophical concept that will blow the top of my head off?

[@chikkipop]

*Darwin's Dangerous Idea* is his best, but mostly because it provides a great description of *design from below.* Cranes rather than skyhooks. Now for me, nothing about it was new, since it is exactly as I've always interpreted the world we see, but his clarity of thought and manner of description added ammunition to the battle.

[@jerklecirque138]

For what it's worth, I think Dennett's work is a little more subtle than that. It's more like you read it and think "Of course. Why didn't I think of that?" That said, I think his work on free will has done the most to shape my thinking. Search KZbin for "Free Will as Moral Responsibility".

[@asadalep]

it is amazing how one can be intelligent, yet SO much misguided, and yet believe they are on the right path. ' and if they are told, believe like people believe, they said, do we believe like the fools believe, it is they who are fools, but they know it not'. So you want us to believe that we came from no where, going no where, and we exist for no reason. yet with no evidence except repeating 'billions of years' .