Taking the Place of Religion - Daniel Dennett (Dublin)

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Taking The Place of Religion

Date: 27th January 2011 (Thu)
Time: 7.30pm - 9.30 pm
Venue: D4 Ballsbridge Inn (formerly Jurys)
Fee: €40.00

Professor Daniel Dennett has been described as one of the leading
thinkers of our time. He is University Professor and Austin B. Fletcher
Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive
Studies at Tufts University.
This thought provoking talk on the future of religion is guaranteed get his
audience thinking - religions have changed more in the last century than
in the previous millennium, and perhaps they will change more in the
decade to come than in the last century. A recent study by American
evangelicals predicted that if current trends continue, "only four percent
of teenagers will be Bible-believing Christians as adults.” Institutions and
their roles are being rapidly transformed. What do we want to see them
become and what steps should we take to ease these transitions?
Daniel C. Dennett, the author of Breaking the Spell (Viking, 2006),
Freedom Evolves (Viking Penguin, 2003) and Darwin's Dangerous Idea
(Simon &Schuster, 1995), is University Professor and Austin B. Fletcher
Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive
Studies at Tufts University. He lives with his wife in North Andover,
Massachusetts, and has a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren.
He was born in Boston in 1942, the son of a historian by the same name,
and received his B.A. in philosophy from Harvard in 1963. He then went to
Oxford to work with Gilbert Ryle, under whose supervision he completed
the D.Phil. in philosophy in 1965. He taught at U.C. Irvine from 1965 to
1971, when he moved to Tufts, where he has taught ever since, aside
from periods visiting at Harvard, Pittsburgh, Oxford, and the École
Normale Supérieure in Paris.

His first book, Content and Consciousness, appeared in 1969, followed by
Brainstorms (1978), Elbow Room (1984), The Intentional Stance (1987),
Consciousness Explained (1991), Darwin's Dangerous Idea (1995), Kinds
of Minds (1996), and Brainchildren: A Collection of Essays 1984-1996 (MIT
Press and Penguin, 1998). Sweet Dreams: Philosophical Obstacles to a
Science of Consciousness, was published in 2005 by MIT Press. He
co-edited The Mind's I with Douglas Hofstadter in 1981. He is the author
of over three hundred scholarly articles on various aspects on the mind,
published in journals ranging from Artificial Intelligence and Behavioral
and Brain Sciences to Poetics Today and the Journal of Aesthetics and
Art Criticism.

He gave the John Locke Lectures at Oxford in 1983, the Gavin David
Young Lectures at Adelaide, Australia, in 1985, and the Tanner Lecture
at Michigan in 1986, among many others. He has received two
Guggenheim Fellowships, a Fulbright Fellowship, and a Fellowship at
the Center for Advanced Studies in Behavioral Science. He was elected
to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1987.
He was the Co-founder (in 1985) and Co-director of the Curricular
Software Studio at Tufts, and has helped to design museum exhibits
on computers for the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Science
in Boston, and the Computer Museum in Boston.
He spends most of his summers on his farm in Maine, where he harvests
blueberries, hay and timber, and makes Normandy cider wine, when he
is not sailing. He is also a sculptor.

http://www.seminars.ie/inspirational-seminars/seminar_details.php?event_id=190

Might go

rccaulfield

40 quid? Is it a dinner thing aswell? Won't be going!

rational

40 Euros to take the place of religion. Some things never change.

rational

rational wrote: »

40 Euros to take the place of religion. Some things never change.

So going to an interesting talk from an author/speaker you like equals religion?

But for 40 quid a head, I'd hope he'd give out lapdances as well.

sponsoredwalk

King Mob wrote: »

So going to an interesting talk from an author/speaker you like equals religion?

That is the rational conclusion alright

nozzferrahhtoo

King Mob wrote: »

So going to an interesting talk from an author/speaker you like equals religion?

But for 40 quid a head, I'd hope he'd give out lapdances as well.

Werent the Bill Clinton tickets when he came going for between 50gbp and 300gbp? I will avoid the jokes of what extras he must have been giving out.

40euro seems pretty tame to me.

nozzferrahhtoo

nozzferrahhtoo wrote: »

Werent the Bill Clinton tickets when he came going for between 50gbp and 300gbp? I will avoid the jokes of what extras he must have been giving out.

40euro seems pretty tame to me.

Well that James Randi (praise be his name :pac:) talk was only like a fiver.

nozzferrahhtoo

King Mob wrote: »

Well that James Randi (praise be his name :pac:) talk was only like a fiver.

Indeed! But I would argue that they were undercharging quicker than I would argue these guys are over charging. I would happily pay 40euro to see EITHER of them. Alas I may miss this one due to living in Germany and not getting home to Ireland that often.

Still.... if he were to throw in some of that home made Normandy cider wine that he makes...

Dades

40 Euro? Hmmm ... I can listen to him on YouTube for free. It's not like seeing a band live where the whole experience is different...

Whatever floats peoples boats, though!

sponsoredwalk

I'm not happy with these extortionist prices at all, I assume it's so high
because of the plane ride over or hosting or something :rolleyes: That price is
the singlemost deciding factor for me & I'll probably decide the day before
whether or not I go, if it sells out it's not a loss tbh, I bet I know
everything the guy will say onstage anyway & I probably disagree with
it more than agree so idk...

magicbastarder

i think henry rollins was about €20 for his spoken word gig in vicar street last year.

sponsoredwalk

magicbastarder wrote: »

i think henry rollins was about €20 for his spoken word gig in vicar street last year.

Same with Jello Biafra about 2 years ago, and that went for like 3 hours!

Galvasean

Dades wrote: »

40 Euro? Hmmm ... I can listen to him on YouTube for free. It's not like seeing a band live where the whole experience is different...

Whatever floats peoples boats, though!

Maybe some people REALLY wnat to ask a question?

Zillah

Even if I were a very wealthy person and forty quid was nothing, the very fact that he'd be trying to extract such sums from his audience automatically sours it for me some how.

Galvasean

Zillah wrote: »

Even if I were a very wealthy person and forty quid was nothing, the very fact that he'd be trying to extract such sums from his audience automatically sours it for me some how.

Does a scientist making money from book sales our it for you also?

ThirdMan

He's in my college soon. Presumably around the same time. I'll be going for free!!!!!

Zillah

Galvasean wrote: »

Does a scientist making money from book sales our it for you also?

If they're extortionately priced far beyond similar works, then yes.

rational

sponsoredwalk wrote: »

That is the rational conclusion alright

Oh that funny the way use used rational as a pun. 40 E cost for a two hour talk.

robindch

Zillah wrote: »

If they're extortionately priced far beyond similar works, then yes.

Has Harris or Hitchens played in Dublin recently?

I seem to remember that Dawkins' gig was free last year, but he was just promoting his book...

MagicMarker

Daniel Dennett absolutely unequivocally bores the arse off me.

Tim Robbins

Going to mass: Free (well maybe a few quid for the collection).
Going to Daniel Dennett: 40 euro

That's a rip off. You could buy at least 3 decent books for that price.

bnt

Galvasean wrote: »

Does a scientist making money from book sales our it for you also?

The talk is being handled by a commercial company, seminars.ie. There was another talk I considered going to, last year, but they priced me out of the market - and they have no qualms about who they book as long as it makes money. Anyone interested in hearing David Wells talk about the "Power Angels" next April for €50? :mad:

Imagine what a conversation with Archangel Raphael could bring you, how you would feel after a heart to heart with Archangel Michael or how much you could learn at a workshop delivered by Archangel Metatron. Your personal relationship with each of the mighty power Archangels is just waiting for you to build, but knowing which angel to ask for help, why and when is critical to the success of that relationship.

Meanwhile, I saw PZ Myers and Steven Weinberg at UCD last year, for the cost of joining a couple of Societies. Last week I went to a lecture by Prof. Paul Crutzen (who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on Ozone) about climate change and geoengineering, at TCD - which cost me a LUAS fare. (It wasn't very good, though!)

Tim Robbins

bnt wrote: »

The talk is being handled by a commercial company, seminars.ie. There was another talk I considered going to, last year, but they priced me out of the market - and they have no qualms about who they book as long as it makes money. Anyone interested in hearing David Wells talk about the "Power Angels" next April for €50? :mad:

Meanwhile, I saw PZ Myers and Steven Weinberg at UCD last year, for the cost of joining a couple of Societies. Last week I went to a lecture by Prof. Paul Crutzen (who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on Ozone) about climate change and geoengineering, at TCD - which cost me a LUAS fare. (It wasn't very good, though!)

I wonder how much Dennet will get from this.

stevejazzx

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I wonder how much Dennet will get from this.

Oee milllllheeeeeeon dollars?

Or five times 40 minus costs?

It could end up being a negative equity gig:)

JoeB-

Yep, too expensive. Won't be going because of it.


I prefer his work on conciousness rather than religion, although I've read both.

Just bought Breaking the Spell today (6 Euros or so) and Sweet Dreams, his latest on conciousness for about 12 Euro.


Saw the lads from Athiest Ireland... the head guy is really excellent and was better than his guest. His guest was the author of the Phargulka (spelling?) blog.. PZ Myers is it? Yes it is...

Very impressed by Athiest Ireland. The letter they wrote to the president about the blashemy laws was excellent, although it seems to have been ignored.. even though it raised good points, such as that the President of Ireland has to swear an oath to God, (thus preventing athiests from holding the post).. and also that judges in Ireland need to swear an oath asking God to direct them in their work.

keppler

Galvasean wrote: »

Maybe some people REALLY wnat to ask a question?

Yeah...... like I really want to know why you're charging 40 quid a head?

Jarndyce

It's 25e a head for students and OAPs.

Even 25e is a bit steep in my opinion.

Kaulo27

He'll be speaking in UCC on the 28th of January for free, all are welcome.
Check out the Atheist Society UCC Facebook page for more details.

sponsoredwalk

Kaulo27 wrote: »

He'll be speaking in UCC on the 28th of January for free, all are welcome.
Check out the Atheist Society UCC Facebook page for more details.

And for those of us who purposely scorn facebook?

Kaulo27

sponsoredwalk wrote: »

And for those of us who purposely scorn facebook?

Why would one scorn Facebook! Social networking is the future!

Here are the details;

Speaker; Dan Dennet

Talk; Taking the place of Religion

Date; 28th Jan

Time; 18.00 - 20.00

Location; Boole Lecture Theatres - Boole 4

sponsoredwalk

Do u have to reserve a ticket or anything like that or just show up on the day?

Kaulo27

Just show up.

J C

Kaulo27 wrote: »

Just show up.

I never realised that Atheists were so 'financially preoccupied' ... go on and give the man his 40 quid if what he has to say interests you!!!:pac:

bnt

I would if I thought the €40 would be going to DD - but I doubt he's getting even 1/2 that, though I obviously have no way of knowing. If that agency's schedule is any guide, they will put on anything that makes them money without discrimination. I'm simply not going to encourage that type of exploitative business practice.

J C

bnt wrote: »

I would if I thought the €40 would be going to DD - but I doubt he's getting even 1/2 that, though I obviously have no way of knowing. If that agency's schedule is any guide, they will put on anything that makes them money without discrimination. I'm simply not going to encourage that type of exploitative business practice.

All business is based on making a margin ... and it is quite legitimate when the margin is reasonable ... as the worker deserves his/her wages ... welcome to the real world bnt!!!

Byron85

Here's the link to the event on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134154259982039

Hopefully i'll see some of you there!!!

raah!

Pity he's not going to say anything about free will or wretched subterfuge :P. I will attend the ucc one all the same. And perhaps try to read one of his books before hand if I can.

robindch

Bump -- this is happening this evening.

Anybody else coming?

magicbastarder

J C wrote: »

I never realised that Atheists were so 'financially preoccupied' ... go on and give the man his 40 quid if what he has to say interests you!!!:pac:

atheists aren't as used as christians to handing money over at events where their 'religious leaders' preach...

J C

magicbastarder wrote: »

atheists aren't as used as christians to handing money over at events where their 'religious leaders' preach...

... does this mean that Atheists don't put their money ... where their mouths are???

... anyway, what did Prof Dennet have to say ... and was it worth the 40 quid?

Galvasean

Who the hell let you out of your cage?

J C

Galvasean wrote: »

Who the hell let you out of your cage?

... it was Heaven ... I must be about my Father's business.

... anyway, did Prof Dennet have any words of wisdom for his fellow Atheists in Dublin ... and was it worth the 40 quid?

Byron85

J C wrote: »

I must be about my Father's business.

... anyway, did Prof Dennet have any words of wisdom for his fellow Atheists in Dublin ... and was it worth the 40 quid?

Well it was free in Cork and myself and some others in the Atheists Society had dinner with him afterwards.

Words of wisdom, well considering the man is world renowned philosopher......

Jarndyce

J C wrote: »

... anyway, did Prof Dennet have any words of wisdom for his fellow Atheists in Dublin ... and was it worth the 40 quid?

None, presumably, that would change your views. If reason and common sense can't snap you out of delusion, then I fail to see how an intelligent elaboration of same might elicit your curiosity as to its content.

J C

Jarndyce wrote: »

None, presumably, that would change your views. If reason and common sense can't snap you out of delusion, then I fail to see how an intelligent elaboration of same might elicit your curiosity as to its content.

... don't mind me ... the rest of your audience might like to know ...
... indeed I would also like to know how the other half lives ... and what they're currently thinking!!!

J C

Byron85 wrote: »

Well it was free in Cork and myself and some others in the Atheists Society had dinner with him afterwards.

Words of wisdom, well considering the man is world renowned philosopher......

... the thread title says that Prof Dennet is 'taking the place of religion' ... so is he the Atheist equivalent of a pastor or something?????

... do tell what he said!!

raah!

I found it enjoyable, but not exactly intellectually stimulating. He didn't really say anything, it was like a summary of an introduction.

J C

raah! wrote: »

I found it enjoyable, but not exactly intellectually stimulating. He didn't really say anything, it was like a summary of an introduction.

You should attend a Creation Science Conference if you want to be intellectually stimulated!!!

Dades

Digitally stimulated, more like.

Galvasean

J C wrote: »

You should attend a Creation Science Conference if you want to be intellectually stimulated!!!

You mean like the one with the guy in the gorilla suit and free wine? Then some lad went crazy and threw tennis balls everywhere. Then a fight broke out.

J C

Dades wrote: »

Digitally stimulated, more like.

That too !!!:)