What Daniel Dennett thinks about religion
American philosopher of mind and cognitive scientist (1942 to 2024), co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University; author of Consciousness Explained, Darwin's Dangerous Idea and Breaking the Spell.
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Daniel Dennett did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
2 dated positions, 2006, in their own words. Our reading of what Daniel Dennett has said — not written or endorsed by them.
The line under a date shows how recently it was said: empty within a month, full after three years.
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Their wordsIn other words, whereas religions may serve a benign purpose by letting many people feel comfortable with the level of morality they themselves can attain, no religion holds its members to the high standards of moral responsibility that the secular world of science and medicine does!
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Their wordsIn the long run, I think religious people can be asked to live up to the same moral standards as secular people in science and medicine.
The line under a date fills as the words age, a quarter at a time: past a month, six months, a year, and three years. Empty means said within the last month; full, more than three years ago. It says when, not whether it still holds — a change of mind is marked on the claim itself.
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