Review: Darwin's dangerous idea

An exploration--at a consistently high level of discourse--of the implications of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection, which extend far beyond biology. Dennett (director, Center for Cognitive Studies/Tufts Univ.; Consciousness Explained, 1991, etc.) goes directly to the crux of the natural selection controversy: its implicit denial that a divine ""first cause"" is needed to account for the origin of life. While Darwin discreetly avoided a confrontation with orthodox religion, he could not prevent the proponents of divine creation from launching preemptive attacks against his theory. Dennett takes a rationalist tack, pointing out that any theory of a creator begs the question of how life began: If complex DNA molecules cannot have come into being without a creator, must not that creator have been even more complex to have designed the molecules? He argues his points more from a philosophical and logical position than from analysis of the scientific literature on evolution, of which he openly admits only an amateur's understanding. (On the other hand, few of the critics of Darwinian selection have any deeper knowledge of the subject.) Among the fascinating subjects he brings up in passing are the laws of probability, computer simulations of evolution, and the revisionist Darwinian theories of Stephen Jay Gould and Roger Penrose. Ultimately, he contends, the Darwinian revolution's greatest achievement is the denial of the supernatural explanation of the universe, replacing it with an even more miraculous natural explanation. Readers had best be prepared to think long and hard about the points Dennett raises, but those who stay with the author will be amply rewarded for their efforts.

A delightful reading.

Review: Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanins of Life

I'm teaching this book for a philosophy of biology course this semester, so I'm read this with its potential for pedagogy in mind. All in all, I thought it was a pretty good explanation and defense of ... Read full review

Review: Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanins of Life

As many other reviewers of this book have pointed out, it's very dense and requires time for thought. Although I've read Dennett before, I think it takes a couple of works before getting used to his ... Read full review

Review: Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanins of Life

Evolution theory and all the things related to it, has been an interest for me. This time I wanted to dig deeper and read Darwin's Dangerous Idea by Daniel C. Dennett. It is highly appreciated book ... Read full review

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

Five stars for the excellent exposition and science. Minus one star for the silly philosophy. For an example of the latter, see here. Read full review

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

Essential. Read full review

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

Wow what a scorcher. As a Southern Baptist reading this book I inevitably had to change the way I envisioned the atheist worldview. The whole purpose from meaningless design argument and that humans ... Read full review

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

A worthy successor to Mayr's Growth of Biological Thought. Read full review

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

Wow, I kept struggling to finish this book but I really, really hate it. In all fairness the author says in the beginning that it might be offensive. However, the first 100 pages do nothing but insult ... Read full review