Dennett vs Winston: Public debate-Science vs Religion

[Rrose Selavy]

http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,,2275308,00.html

As usual Winston still doesn't get it, does he?

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[ksbluesfan]

Winston misses the point by a wide margin, from his reliance upon Pascal's wager, to his belief that scientist claims to have an answer for everything. I do agree with him about one thing -- people should be free to believe whatever they want to believe, but only as long as they grant me the freedom to disbelieve.

[juryjone]

What a waste of time. A rational debate cannot take place when one of the sides is defending an irrational subject. I don't know why Dennett is even showing up. Throw all the rational arguments at Winston you want - his viewpoint was not arrived at rationally, but through feelings. Even in this short synopsis, they're talking at cross-purposes to each other.

It's something like this:

D: "Due the the high-pressure cell holding over the region, there's a very low chance of rain today."
W: "I felt like having eggs this morning."
D: "That's all well and good, but aren't we here to discuss meteorology?"
W: "Is it hot in here to you?"
D: "I give up."
W: (to audience) "He just can't debate me."