We take a fresh look at Daniel Dennett’s naturalist legacy in philosophy, focusing on his rethinking of philosophical methods. Critics sometimes mistake Dennett for promoting a crude naturalism or dismissing philosophical tools like first-person intuition. We present his approach as more methodologically radical, blending science and philosophy in a way that treats inquiry as an evolving process. Concepts and intuitions are tested and adjusted in light of empirical findings and broader epistemic…
Read moreWe take a fresh look at Daniel Dennett’s naturalist legacy in philosophy, focusing on his rethinking of philosophical methods. Critics sometimes mistake Dennett for promoting a crude naturalism or dismissing philosophical tools like first-person intuition. We present his approach as more methodologically radical, blending science and philosophy in a way that treats inquiry as an evolving process. Concepts and intuitions are tested and adjusted in light of empirical findings and broader epistemic aims. For Dennett, science is not a limitation on philosophy, but a tool that sharpens it, with empirical data helping to refine our understanding both of concepts and philosophical phenomena alike. By exploring Dennett’s methodological contributions, we underscore the ongoing importance of his naturalist perspective in today’s philosophical landscape.
