Daniel C. Dennett

Daniel C. Dennett is an acclaimed American author, philosopher, and cognitive scientist. His work in the field of philosophy primarily focuses on the philosophy of science, mind, and biology, with a particular emphasis on how these areas relate to cognitive science and evolutionary biology. Dennett is considered to be one of the Four Horsemen of New Atheism, a group that also includes Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens. In addition to his work as a philosopher, Dennett is also a professor of Philosophy and the co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University in Massachusetts.

Dennett received his undergraduate degree in philosophy from Harvard University in 1963, where he studied under W.V.O. Quine. He later went on to earn his D.Phil. from Christ Church, Oxford in 1965, where he studied under the ordinary language philosopher Gilbert Ryle. Throughout his career, Dennett has been a prolific writer and speaker, giving lectures at prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford, the University of Michigan, and the University of Adelaide. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards and fellowships, including two Guggenheim Fellowships, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Science. In 1987, Dennett was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to his work as a philosopher and academic, Dennett is also an avid sailor and an advocate of the Brights movement, a social movement that promotes the advancement of a naturalistic worldview. He is also a well-known atheist and has been a vocal critic of religion and supernaturalism. Dennett has also been involved in various projects outside of academia, including helping to design museum exhibits on computers for the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Science in Boston, and the Computer Museum in Boston. He is a Humanist Laureate of the International Academy of Humanism and a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.