Daniel Dennett

Cognitive Science American 1942 100 quotes

An influential philosopher and cognitive scientist known for his work on consciousness, free will, and the philosophy of mind from a naturalistic perspective.

Quotes by Daniel Dennett

There are no miracles, only phenomena that we don't yet understand.

Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon 2006

The more we learn about the brain, the less mysterious consciousness becomes.

Consciousness Explained 1991

The self is a user-illusion.

Consciousness Explained 1991

We are not the authors of our own thoughts; we are the audience.

Consciousness Explained 1991

The only thing that makes us special is our ability to create and share memes.

Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life 1995

The universe doesn't care about our feelings.

Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life 1995

The purpose of life is to spread information.

From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds 2017

If you want to be a good philosopher, you have to be a good scientist.

The Intentional Stance 1987

The only way to make progress in philosophy is to engage with science.

The Intentional Stance 1987

The mind is not a ghost in the machine; it is the machine.

Consciousness Explained 1991

We are not rational agents; we are rationalizing agents.

Elbow Room: The Varieties of Free Will Worth Wanting 1984

The human brain is the most complex object in the known universe.

Consciousness Explained 1991

The only thing that matters is what we do, not what we think.

Elbow Room: The Varieties of Free Will Worth Wanting 1984

The world is full of wonders, but we often fail to see them.

Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life 1995

The most important thing is to keep asking questions.

Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking 2013

Don't be afraid to be wrong.

Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking 2013

The best way to learn is to teach.

Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking 2013

The only way to make sense of the future is to understand the past.

From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds 2017

The universe is a self-organizing system.

From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds 2017

We are all part of something much larger than ourselves.

From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds 2017