From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds by Daniel C. Dennett "How a comprehending mind could in fact have arisen from a mindless process of natural selection." 🧠 PHILOSOPHY OF MIND | EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY | COGNITIVE SCIENCE An agenda-setting exploration of how natural selection and the competition of memes transformed biological brains into creative, comprehending human minds. Extended Synopsis How did we come to have minds? For centuries, the development of human consciousness has remained one of the great mysteries of science and philosophy. In From Bacteria to Bach and Back, Daniel C. Dennett builds upon groundbreaking discoveries in biology and computer science to provide a step-by-step account of the mind's evolution. Dennett argues that the shift from "competence without comprehension" to full human consciousness was driven by a mindless process of natural selection. A central pillar of Dennett’s thesis is the development of memes—units of cultural transmission that allowed humans to share "ways of doing things" beyond genetic instinct. The resulting competition among these memes produced "thinking tools" powerful enough to allow the human brain to move beyond mere perception and reaction into the realms of creation and deep comprehension. This work stands as a definitive guide for a new generation of scientists and philosophers seeking to understand the mechanical origins of the human spirit. About the Author Daniel C. Dennett was one of the most influential philosophers of his time, serving as the co-director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. A prominent voice in the "New Atheism" movement and a pioneer in the intersection of evolutionary biology and cognitive science, his other notable works include Consciousness Explained and Darwin's Dangerous Idea. Reader Targeting & Academic Utility Cognitive Scientists: Provides a robust theoretical framework for the evolution of cultural cognition and memetics. Philosophy Students: A primary text for understanding functionalist and materialist approaches to the "hard problem" of consciousness. Evolutionary Biologists: Explores the extension of Darwinian principles from strictly genetic processes to cultural and mental development. Technical Specifications ISBN-13 9780393355505 ISBN-10 0393355500 Format Paperback Publisher W.W. Norton & Company Publication Date February 20, 2018 Subjects Popular Science Accolades & Features An essential volume for understanding the mechanics of memetic evolution. "Dennett's most ambitious work, weaving together the biological and the cultural to explain the very seat of human creativity." — Bust Down Books Editorial Review Bust-Down Books: A Name You Can Trust Most Trusted Name in Online Shopping { "@context": "https://schema.org/", "@type": "Book", "name": "From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel C. Dennett" }, "isbn": "9780393355505", "inLanguage": "en", "bookFormat": "https://schema.org/Paperback", "datePublished": "2018-02-20", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "W.W. Norton & Company" }, "offers": { "@type": "Offer", "price": "14.99", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "shippingDetails": { "@type": "OfferShippingDetails", "deliveryTime": { "@type": "ShippingDeliveryTime", "handlingTime": { "@type": "QuantitativeValue", "minValue": 0, "maxValue": 1, "unitCode": "d" } } }, "hasMerchantReturnPolicy": { "@type": "MerchantReturnPolicy", "applicableCountry": "US", "returnPolicyCategory": "https://schema.org/MerchantReturnFiniteReturnPeriod", "merchantReturnDays": 30, "returnMethod": "https://schema.org/ReturnByMail", "returnFees": [ "https://schema.org/ReturnFeesCustomerPaying", "https://schema.org/OriginalShippingFees" ] } }, "brand": { "@type": "Brand", "name": "Bust Down Books" } }
