Daniel Dennett and Darwin’s Dangerous Idea

Presentation by Gordon Orians about the thinking of philosopher Daniel Dennett (who died recently at the age of 82). A vocal atheist and secularist, Dennett has been described as “one of the most widely read and debated American philosophers”. Dennett had a deep understanding of Darwin. His book, “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea”, asserts that, by upending Western ideas of causality (design without a designer) Darwin challenged our relationship with the biological world and how everything evolved. Gordon Orians guides our thinking about the deep implications of Darwin's basic idea. In the process, we may topple the pedestal on which we think we stand. Orians is Professor Emeritus of Biology, University of Washington. He has served as its Director of Environmental Studies. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1989 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1990.