MIND PSYCHOLOGY MIRE : COMPREHENSION

Philosopher Dr. Daniel C. Dennett's first book to attract widespread scholarly notice was '' Brainstorms : Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology,'' published in 1978.

In it, Mr. Dennett asserted that multiple decisions resulted in a moral choice and that these prior, random deliberations contributed more to the way an individual acted than did the ultimate moral decision itself. OR as he explained :

'' I am faced with an important decision to make, and after a certain amount of deliberation, I say to myself :

'That's enough. I've considered this matter enough and now I'm going to act,' in the full knowledge that I could have considered further.

In the full knowledge that the eventualities may prove that I decided in error, but with the acceptance of responsibility in any case.''

Some leading libertarians criticized Mr. Dennett's model as undermining the concept of free will. If random decisions determine ultimate choice, they argued, then individuals aren't liable for their decisions.

Dr. Dennett taught philosophy at the University of California, Irvine, from 1965 to 1971. He then spent almost his entire career on the faculty of Tufts University, where he was the director of its Center for Cognitive Studies and most recently an emeritus professor.