I'VE BEEN THINKING

The renowned philosopher and cognitive scientist reviews his remarkable life.

Dennett (b. 1942) opens on the day he felt chest pain from the dissection of his aortic artery. Following a nine-hour surgery, he is now “the proud possessor of a new aorta.” This happened in 2006, seven years after a catastrophic heart attack required triple-bypass surgery. Although Dennett is widely known for his cheerful atheism, this is predominantly an autobiography and so entertaining that even devout readers of faith should skim the few parts they may find objectionable. From a very early age, writes the author, everything fascinated him, and by college, he had taken up drawing, singing, jazz piano, and music composition and arrangement without, in his opinion, reaching a professional level (although he has had several exhibitions of his sculpture). In one year at Wesleyan and the remaining years at Harvard, Dennett devoted himself to the study of philosophy. On the whole, he avoided science and held a hilarious contempt for mid-20th-century psychology, until he grew captivated with the mind and consciousness, subjects in which he has made his sterling reputation. Two years at Oxford solidified his preoccupation with philosophy, and throughout the book, he discusses its burning issues as well as colleagues who agree and disagree with him. Readers seeking a deeper understanding of modern philosophy should consult his earlier books. Mostly, this is a rollicking autobiography of a successful academic who travels the world, lecturing, teaching, and arguing, often bitterly, with colleagues, but hating few. Along the way, the author chronicles plenty of diversions. He remains with his wife of more than six decades. The couple bought a run-down farm in Maine in 1970 and remained there until 2013, working it intensively. Dennett also tells us about his love of sailing and openly shares his skepticism about artificial intelligence.

A delightful memoir from one of our deepest thinkers.