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D Smith
New Member
2 Posts |
 Posted - 03/10/2005 : 20:18:50
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New England Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Psychology
4th Annual William D. Hamilton Memorial Lecture
Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
Daniel C. Dennett
April 29, 2005 at 7:00 PM
CHP Room, Parker Pavilion
Westbrook College Campus
University of New England,
716 Stevens Avenue, Portland, Maine.
What kind of explanation can the natural sciences provide for the variety of religious practices and beliefs? One possibility, of course, is that it is simply the truth, and that all human groups discover this in the same way that they discover that food and water are necessary for survival, but there are other possible explanations that may shed light on the powerful influence of religion in all contemporary societies.
Daniel C. Dennett is the author of Freedom Evolves (Viking Penguin, 2003)and Darwin's Dangerous Idea (Simon &Schuster, 1995), is University Professor and Austin B. Fletcher Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. His first book, Content and Consciousness, appeared in 1969, followed by Brainstorms (1978), Elbow Room (1984), The Intentional Stance (1987), Consciousness Explained (1991),Darwin's Dangerous Idea (1995), Kinds of Minds (1996), and Brainchildren: A Collection of Essays 1984-1996 (MIT Press and Penguin, 1998). He co-edited The Mind's I with Douglas Hofstadter in 1981. He is the author of over two
hundred scholarly articles on various aspects on the mind, published in journals ranging from Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral and Brain Sciences to Poetics Today and the Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. He gave the John Locke Lectures at Oxford in 1983, the Gavin David Young Lectures at Adelaide, Australia, in 1985, the Tanner Lecture at Michigan in 1986, and the Jean Nicod lectures at Paris in 2001among many others. He has received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Science. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1987. He was the Co-founder (in 1985) and Co-director of the Curricular Software Studio at Tufts, and has helped to design museum exhibits on computers for the Smithsonian nstitution, the Museum of Science in Boston, and the Computer
Museum in Boston.
For further information on the New England Institute visit www.une.edu/nei
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2005 : 21:23:30 [Permalink]
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It looks to me as being all really very simple. We demand explanations for everything -- it is hard-wired into us -- and if we can't find a natural explaination, we go to the supernatural.
A few thousand years ago, the supernatural explanations made the most sense. Unfortunatly, in spite of today's science, these archaic beliefs yet persist.
Welcome to SFN, D!
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2005 : 02:37:45 [Permalink]
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| Hello D Smith, and welcome to Skeptic Friends Network. |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2005 : 02:54:58 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by D Smith
What kind of explanation can the natural sciences provide for the variety of religious practises and beliefs?
Haven't skeptics asked that question since the dawn of skepticism?
quote:
One possibility, of course, is that it is simply the truth, and that all human groups discover this in the same way that they discover that food and water are necessary for survival,
Interesting analogy. It suggest that there is no true religion, but that it is the voyage toward the supernatural that is the important thing and not the goal itself.
Just like people from different parts of the world have different kind of dishes, yet feed themselves, it doesn't really matter what kind of religion you practise as long as you just do.
Logic dictates that no religion is exclusively "the right one", if the analogy holds true.
I'm not sure I like the implication of that analogy however. It suggests that Man has an inherent need for religion, and that it is required in order to stay healthy.
quote:
but there are other possible explanations that may shed light on the powerful influence of religion in all contemporary societies.
Please do share... |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
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Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
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Siberia
SFN Addict
Brazil
2322 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2005 : 08:17:33 [Permalink]
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Aw shucks, too far (half a continent too far, to be precise).
Welcome D! |
"Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?"
- The Kovenant, Via Negativa
"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2005 : 17:49:55 [Permalink]
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| While I, too, would like to welcome D Smith to the SFN, I have a feeling that - due largely to the cut-and-paste nature of the OP - that he/she is not going to be coming back to answer those questions, folks. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2005 : 05:13:39 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave W.
While I, too, would like to welcome D Smith to the SFN, I have a feeling that - due largely to the cut-and-paste nature of the OP - that he/she is not going to be coming back to answer those questions, folks.
Well, it was posted in the Announcement Folder to announce a lecture, so I'm unsure if there is any point in expecting more.
It would be nice to hear more from D Smith anyway. I bet he (she?) has more interesting things to share. |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2005 : 06:57:43 [Permalink]
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Yah, it does look a bit like spam. But I too, would like to converse with him. Might be interesting.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2005 : 10:44:47 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by filthy
Yah, it does look a bit like spam. But I too, would like to converse with him. Might be interesting.
Well, if it's about skepticism, we shouldn't call it spam, should we?
We still don't know what conclusions the lecturer will present. At least I don't. Unfortunately my girlfriend don't want me to spend time googling the 'net for it. She's got other things in mind for us to do...  |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2005 : 11:55:43 [Permalink]
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Daniel Dennett is a philosopher. You can gain insight into his conclusions from reading his books.
And no, the OP wasn't spam, but an appropriate skeptical announcement. My post was only meant to inform people that they shouldn't expect answers from D Smith, not to needle him/her. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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D Smith
New Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 18:22:00 [Permalink]
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I just checked in and found all these responses to my message. First of all, thanks for the welcome. Second, the message wasn't spam. Dan Dennett is a major league philosopher. His work has a strong Darwinian flavor. Members of this community might be interested in his books 'Darwin's Dangerous Idea' and 'Freedom Evolves' (he lectured on the latter at a Skeptics Society lecture in Pasadena). I'm not sure exactly what line he intends to take in the lecture on religion, but it's bound to be illuminating.
Cheers
David |
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Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2005 : 19:17:13 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
I'm not sure I like the implication of that analogy however. It suggests that Man has an inherent need for religion, and that it is required in order to stay healthy.
The ability to be able to separate reality from fantasy can be a sign of mental instability, or so I thought. Maybe it's the other way around. Maybe we sometimes have to get them mixed up, in which case your average skeptic (at least of the "old" school) is absolutely INSANE! |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2005 : 00:43:34 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by D Smith
I just checked in and found all these responses to my message.
Cool, huh?
We're busy bees and always jumps at the opportunity to discuss and debate. After all, it is by questioning ideas that enables us to realise the potential benefits of them. It they aren't up to the test, then perhaps the ideas can be revised.
Recently, we haven't had much challenge, but we do appreciate fresh blood.
quote:
Members of this community might be interested in his books 'Darwin's Dangerous Idea' and 'Freedom Evolves' (he lectured on the latter at a Skeptics Society lecture in Pasadena). I'm not sure exactly what line he intends to take in the lecture on religion, but it's bound to be illuminating.
Please post a short summary of the lecture after it's done, if you are able to. His book might have the potential of being SFN-approved readings.
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Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 03/15/2005 : 08:10:24 [Permalink]
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Books, Mab, books. A glance at the Amazon link I provided above reveals:- Brainchildren: Essays on Designing Minds (Representation and Mind)
- Brainstorms: Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology
- Consciousness Explained
- Content and Consciousness
- Darwin's Dangerous Idea: Evolution and the Meanings of Life
- Elbow Room: The Varieties of Free Will Worth Wanting
- Freedom Evolves
- The Intentional Stance
- Kinds of Minds: Towards an Understanding of Consciousness
- The Mind's I: Fantasies and Reflections on Self & Soul
- Sweet Dreams : Philosophical Obstacles to a Science of Consciousness(Jean Nicod Lectures)
I've read The Mind's I, but I was probably too young to appreciate it, as I remember very little of it. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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