Breaking the spell by daniel dennett books the guardian. The title of dennetts book, breaking the spell, refers his insistence that religious beliefs should be examined logically and scientifically to his book addresses the adherents of organized religion. The title of dennetts book, breaking the spell, refers his insistence that religious beliefs should be examined logically and scientifically to in an admirable. Daniel dennett explains his book breaking the spell youtube. Religion as a natural phenomenon is a 2006 book by the philosopher and cognitive scientist daniel dennett, in which the author argues that religion is in need of scientific analysis so that its nature and future may be better understood. Daniel dennett doesnt take the idea seriously enough in his naturalistic account of faith, breaking the spell, says andrew brown. Daniel dennett doesnt take the idea seriously enough in his naturalistic account of faith, breaking the spell, says. The spell that requires breaking is not religious belief itself but the belief that it is offlimits to or beyond scientific inquiry. Breaking the spell is merely dennett s way of broaching the topic, throwing out ideas that those who do have more experience than dennett in these fields can attempt to refute or prove. For all the thousands of books that have been written about religion, few until this. Never the twain shall meetthis is a bad idea according to dennett. Dennett, professor of philosophy at tufts university, presented his lecture in the nature of knowledge series, breaking the.
It is hard being an atheist with a sense of proportion. Stephen jay gould wrote of nonoverlapping magisteria, of both science and religion as worthy of respect in their own rights. Religion as a natural phenomenon is a 2006 book by the. This sense of crisis underlies the programme that the philosopher daniel dennett seeks to introduce in his new book. Breaking the spell suggests the removal of an external influence, probably a malign one. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Dennett also states that religion in america is not the same as religions in other countries. Dennett seeks to uncover the origins of religion and discusses how and why different faiths have shaped so many lives, whether religion is an addiction or a genuine human need, and even whether it is good for our health. Think of the people who are addicted to drugs, or gambling, or alcohol, or child pornography. Daniel dennett explains his book breaking the spell. For all the thousands of books that have been written about religion, few until this one have attempted to examine it scientifically. Religion as a natural phenomenon, daniel dennett hopes to break the spellnot of religious belief, but of the conviction that it is not a fit subject for scientific inquiry. Dennett spends a lot of time cutting through the typical faithbased muck that makes it taboo to research or offer. The courteous tone is apparent from the very first question, of whether or not its wise.
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