Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking

De: Daniel C. Dennett

Narrado por: Jeff Crawford

Over a storied career, Daniel C. Dennett has engaged questions about science and the workings of the mind. His answers have combined rigorous argument with strong empirical grounding. And a lot of fun. Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking offers seventy-seven of Dennett’s most successful “imagination-extenders and focus-holders” meant to guide you through some of life’s most treacherous subject matter: evolution, meaning, mind, and free will.

With patience and wit, Dennett deftly deploys his thinking tools to gain traction on these thorny issues while offering listeners insight into how and why each tool was built. Alongside well-known favorites like Occam’s Razor and reductio ad absurdum lie thrilling descriptions of Dennett’s own creations: Trapped in the Robot Control Room, Beware of the Prime Mammal, and The Wandering Two-Bitser. Ranging across disciplines as diverse as psychology, biology, computer science, and physics, Dennett’s tools embrace in equal measure light-heartedness and accessibility as they welcome uninitiated and seasoned listeners alike.

As always, his goal remains to teach you how to “think reliably and even gracefully about really hard questions.” A sweeping work of intellectual seriousness that’s also studded with impish delights, Intuition Pumps offers intrepid thinkers - in all walks of life - delicious opportunities to explore their pet ideas with new powers.

©2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc. (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A philosopher of rare originality, rigor, and wit.” (Jim Holt, Wall Street Journal)

Wish it had the chapters properly named…

It could be useful for when you want to jump back into it and reflect on some specific topics.

A book everyone should try to understand

This book is a must read for anyone interested in philosophy. A must read for anyone interested in forming good arguments. Anyone who wants to evaluate the arguments of others. Anyone who thinks that free will is a myth. Anyone who thinks that free will is unquestionable.

I'm planning on listening to it several times. it is that good.

My goodness Daniel...

His ability to navigate ideas left me speechless. His views on consciousness are immensely compelling and I find myself entranced in thought over them.

Difficult, but not impossible

I'm not sure if this medium is the best way to absorb all the thick and hairy material in this book. Having said that, there are plenty of moments where the author's attempts to make the content easy to digest hit their mark. This happens just often enough to keep the reader engaged and following along, if only barely.

you need to do some prior reading

this book is excellent IF you have taken an introductory course into philosophy recently. Instead, you could read History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell that in itself is excellent, to prepare your brain.