Richard Dawkins 'support the fight-back'

[ArabellaScott]

'Just finished ‘The End of Gender: Debunking the Myths about Sex and Identity’ by @DrDebraSoh
.

Strongly recommended.

If even half is true of what she says about the intimidation of scientists in her field of sexology, we need to support the fight-back.'

twitter.com/RichardDawkins/status/1372880208840261635

@AaronStampler

That doesn't surprise me. He mocked the study of theology, saying we wouldn't take the study of 'fairyology' seriously, and theology should be treated the same way.

I think that's a pretty reasonable view. I feel the same way about the intricacies of Judith Butler's work and subsequent queer theorists. I don't need to study their work in detail or be fully familiar with their terminology and arguments to know that an ideology based on a denial of material reality is a terrible foundation for building social,.legal, or ethical systems.

This is why he gets himself into trouble, and the interview where he was asked about epistemology is to the point. Some of his main arguments in TGD are epistemological. An area of philosophy which he did not know existed, and had not read up in.

And not surprisingly, his arguments in this area showed it. They were hackneyed, poorly understood, and reflected a set of ideas that were about 100 years out of date in philosophical circles and had been abandoned to a large extent because people could not make them work.

His understanding of theology puts him in a very similar position- he couldn't even tell you what various religious groups think about material reality. Hence Terry Eagelton's Book of British Birds comment.

I was that child too, perhaps I was a joyless bore or perhaps I just couldn't bear to see children being lied to about Santa by the adults we most trusted (the ones that always insisted we always tell the truth) even in primary school found that very painful.

It's been a discovery to me on internet forums that some people see Father Christmas as "a lie". Presumably the tooth fairy too. But that's a story for another day

@WanderinWomb

I was that child too, perhaps I was a joyless bore or perhaps I just couldn't bear to see children being lied to about Santa by the adults we most trusted (the ones that always insisted we always tell the truth) even in primary school found that very painful.

Did you loudly announce it to other children? Were you incredibly smug because you were the only one who understood? Have you ever done an interview on the radio and felt the need as an adult to tell everyone what a clever 4 year old you were? If you answered no then not at all the same as Richard "I'm so much cleverer than anyone else" Dawkins.

TWITTER has deleted???? Or not...

I've got ... something went wrong, don't fret.... give it another shot for last 5 mins....

@loveyouradvice

TWITTER has deleted???? Or not...

I've got ... something went wrong, don't fret.... give it another shot for last 5 mins....

I can still see it

@bourbonne

It's been a discovery to me on internet forums that some people see Father Christmas as "a lie". Presumably the tooth fairy too. But that's a story for another day

Is a dream a like because it didn't come true? Bruce Springsteen

Although I've not read the whole book yet, I recommend '7 types of atheism' by John Gray, for anyone interested in the subject. Very thoughtful, insightful and gently provocative. Must dig it out from the pile.

Gay is in a different league entirely than Dawkins. But a lot of his ideas I suspect might be difficult for many people to stomach. He doesn't offer any easy humanist platitudes.

He wrote this in the Spectator diary last week.

Aye, even when I agree with him he pisses me off, somehow, IDaniel.

Love 'postmodern metabaloney' though

I suspect one of the vipers on here has a recipe for that, Errol. Probably comes with a word salad.

I think Richard Dawkins and Stephen Fry banging on about being atheists is enough to turn most people to religion.