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Steven Pinker on Writing About Science

Spreading good ideas with someone you know is one of the simplest things we can do to improve the conversation.

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Spreading good ideas with someone you know is one of the simplest things we can do to improve the conversation.

  • Valerie Hounsell replied on 08:44 AM on January 27, 2008
    It is refreshing to have a point of view presented in such an articulate manner. I am not sure I will be able to express myself as clearly. I agree, It is unfortunate that we have not found a solution to "secular enlightenment". The damage that has already been done is devastating to those of us who are attempting to understand the views of those less "enlightened". I empathize with those feeling the frustration of having views and beliefs imposed upon them with force, however, I also agree, expressing frustration with forceful retaliation and violence will solve nothing and will only aggravate the issue. Maybe "we, the enlightened ones" need to take a closer look at the reasoning behind the actions of those less "enlightened" and their need to resort to the violent force instead of the violence itself. Truly understanding may help us work towards a more peaceful solution.
  • Valerie Hounsell replied on 01:44 PM on January 27, 2008
    It is refreshing to have a point of view presented in such an articulate manner. I am not sure I will be able to express myself as clearly.
    I agree, It is unfortunate that we have not found a solution to "secular enlightenment". The damage that has already been done is devastating to those of us who are attempting to understand the views of those less "enlightened". I empathize with those feeling the frustration of having views and beliefs imposed upon them with force, however, I also agree, expressing frustration with forceful retaliation and violence will solve nothing and will only aggravate the issue. Maybe "we, the enlightened ones" need to take a closer look at the reasoning behind the actions of those less "enlightened" and their need to resort to the violent force instead of the violence itself. Truly understanding may help us work towards a more peaceful solution.
  • Jordon Roy Gowans
    Jordon Roy Gowans replied on 03:46 PM on March 19, 2008
    I do not think religion can be disposed of quite yet. Sure, a lot of people think idiotic things because of indoctrination, but they are not all religious; many are secular. Pinker mentions in _The Blank Slate_, for example, the difficulty people have getting good academic jobs without referencing Foucault. I think what we ought to do with belief is open up discussions between different positions, enrich the values belief systems have given us with solid research, and only then decide if we want to keep studying the old texts which inspired us to develop civilization to its current point in the first place.
  • Jordon Roy Gowans
    Jordon Roy Gowans replied on 07:46 PM on March 19, 2008
    I do not think religion can be disposed of quite yet. Sure, a lot of people think idiotic things because of indoctrination, but they are not all religious; many are secular. Pinker mentions in _The Blank Slate_, for example, the difficulty people have getting good academic jobs without referencing Foucault. I think what we ought to do with belief is open up discussions between different positions, enrich the values belief systems have given us with solid research, and only then decide if we want to keep studying the old texts which inspired us to develop civilization to its current point in the first place.

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