Darwin's dangerous idea : evolution and the meanings of life / Daniel C. Dennett.

"A Touchstone book."

Includes bibliographical references (pages [525]-550) and index.

Tell me why -- An idea is born -- Universal acid -- The tree of life -- The possible and the actual -- Threads of actuality in design space -- Priming Darwin's pump -- Biology is engineering -- Searching for quality -- Bully for brontosaurus -- Controversies contained -- The cranes of culture -- Losing our minds to Darwin -- The evolution of meanings -- The emperor's new mind, and other fables -- On the origin of morality -- Redesigning morality -- The future of an idea.

In this groundbreaking and very accessible book, Daniel C. Dennett, the acclaimed author of Consciousness Explained, demonstrates the power of the theory of natural selection and shows how Darwin's great idea transforms and illuminates our traditional view of our place in the universe. Following Darwinian thinking to its logical conclusions is a risky business, with pitfalls for everybody. Creationists and others who reject evolution are not the only ones to fall into the traps. Many who accept the validity of Darwin's conclusions hesitate before their implications and distort his theory, fearful that it is politically incorrect or antireligious, or that it robs life of all spirituality. Dennett explains the scientific theory of natural selection in vivid terms, and shows how it extends far beyond biology.