Higgs v Dawkins

[hola_adios]

It did sadden me a frontal attack from Peter Higgs against Richard Dawkins, published today on Spanish media (google should make an OK job at translating it). Calling Dawkins a fundamentalist,as he did, couldn't be more far from the truth and shows a clear misunderstanding by some top scientists of Dawkins ideas and mission.

Link to read: http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/12/27...11441.html

[Erxomai]

Welcome, Hello-Goodbye.

Here's an English version of the story.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/d...amentalism

[hola_adios]

(28-12-2012 10:53 AM)Erxomai Wrote:  Welcome, Hello-Goodbye.

Here's an English version of the story.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/d...amentalism

Thanks for the welcome, and for the link to the guardian, I should have checked there first. I have been looking for a forum like this for years!

Back to it, real shame to see such an attack from Higgs, who doesn't seem to really have done his research about Dawkins, I personally do not think that silence will make much for spreading scientific ideas and the scientific method.

[Chas]

(28-12-2012 11:10 AM)hola_adios Wrote:  

(28-12-2012 10:53 AM)Erxomai Wrote:  Welcome, Hello-Goodbye.

Here's an English version of the story.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/d...amentalism

Thanks for the welcome, and for the link to the guardian, I should have checked there first. I have been looking for a forum like this for years!

Back to it, real shame to see such an attack from Higgs, who doesn't seem to really have done his research about Dawkins, I personally do not think that silence will make much for spreading scientific ideas and the scientific method.

Peter Higgs seems like a nice, conventional fellow, non-confrontational.

He is wrong about Dawkins and about the action needed to combat religious idiocy.

[KidCharlemagne1962]

Welcome aboard!

Dawkins can put a lot of people off, this complaint has been made about him many times. I think his intensity is a much needed way to combat things.

[hola_adios]

(28-12-2012 11:25 AM)KidCharlemagne1962 Wrote:  Welcome aboard!

Dawkins can put a lot of people off, this complaint has been made about him many times. I think his intensity is a much needed way to combat things.

Thanks for the welcome!

I have heard that a few times, but I always correlated this comment with how sharp and merciless his logic and speech are towards those who just want an easy belief system. I personally have never seen Dawkins behaving like a "science zealot", and certainly would have never equated any of his speeches/lectures with that of a conservative priest or an Ayatollah (wrong terminology used there by Higgs).

[GodlessnFree]

It really pisses me off when people criticize Dawkins for saying the truth about religion. "Don't criticize them!" "It makes them happy!" "That's scientism!" "Why do you care about their beliefs?"

Most of the intellectual community keeps trying to appease the faitheads. Their relativistic view of the concept of "truth" makes me question their honesty. I see it as a fundamental treachery to intellectual honesty. Some opinions are simply not reasonable and should not get respect. Pretending that all the religious dogmas are respectable for "convenient" reasons... What was the name for that? Oh yeah, Hypocrisy.

This reminds me of the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes". Everyone pretends that the emperor is dressed up with marvelous clothes. Meanwhile, everyone knows that the "clothes" are not just common, they are not there.