Daniel Dennett is one of America's most important and influential contemporary philosophers. He has made considerable contributions to the philosophy of mind and to evolutionary thought. This book offers an introduction to Dennett's ideas, his key writings and his contributions to the various fields of philosophy. Thematically organised, the book presents a consistent and accessible philosophy. David L. Thompson examines philosophical problems in consciousness, self, religion, ethics, evolution, freedom and ontology and provides a clear account of how Dennett resolves these issues. The book explores the twentieth-century stand-off between the scientific worldview, on the one hand, and ethics, freedom and human dignity on the other. Ultimately Thompson presents Dennett's work as reconciling these two approaches. This book covers Dennett's key texts and presents a number of Dennett's often brilliant thought experiments. This is the ideal companion to the study of this hugely influential thinker.

1. Introduction: The Project of Naturalism
2. What Conciousness is not: The Critique of the Cartesian Theatre
3. What Conciousness is: The Multiple Drafts Model
4. Evolution: Getting Here from There
5. Selfhood: Memes, Language and Narrative
6. Ontology: Stances, Patterns and Realism
7. Freedom: What is Worth Having?
8. Ethics and Religion: Evolution and Beyond
9. Conclusion: Synthesis and Critical Assessment Bibliography