Randi gets deep

[Smalso]

Is it just me, or is the current Commentary, especiallyA few personal thoughts, the result of a recent plane trip…. enlightening and enjoyable?

[c4ts]

Originally posted by Smalso
Is it just me, or is the current Commentary, especially enlightening and enjoyable?

A species has an obligation to survive. That's brought about by the application of greed and selfishness by every individual of the species. In homo sapiens we like to modify that procedure by considering the well-being of our fellows, not to the point where we ourselves will suffer unduly — though admirable and memorable examples of genuine altruism certainly exist and would seem to deny that prime directive — but (from a practical view) that practice does act to preserve the species as well as the individual.

I'm perhaps getting far too philosophical here, but my point is that the swindlers out there just have a different "take" on what's right and what's wrong, on what's moral and immoral. These observations were triggered by a recent conversation I had with a colleague, in which I told him about an event of fourteen years ago, when I was invited by one of the charlatans into an empty dressing-room backstage at a TV taping. There, after he mumbled about the possibility of "hidden tape recorders," he launched into a long rant about how it had been some twenty years that we had been engaged in battle, and that we should bring it to an end. I made it short and sweet: "You and I have different views of how we should treat others. To you, it's a jungle we live in, with predators and prey. The predator — you — is stronger, so you eat up the weaker. As for me, I favor trying to survive while helping the weaker to get stronger, and thus contribute to society. We just will never agree, and I'm wasting my time trying to make you see my view." I turned to leave, and he jumped in front of me. "But I never stole anything from anyone!" he exclaimed. "Only their security and their sanity," I answered, and left the room.

Spare me the guesses, please…..


I'd say so. Hmmm... Randi should brush up on his Theucydides.

[Nikk]

Originally posted by c4ts




I'd say so. Hmmm... Randi should brush up on his Theucydides.

Perhaps he favours Plato:)

[Smalso]

Originally posted by Nikk


Perhaps he favours Plato:)

I didn't even know he cared for Mickey Mouse cartoons.:D

[c4ts]

Originally posted by Nikk


Perhaps he favours Plato:)

Actually, Theucydides, Plato, and Randi say the same things about injustice. Look at what Athens in the Melian Dialogues, look at Thrasymachus and Gorgias. They all say the same thing: "Justice" is controlled by the ones with the most power- everything is the strong taking advantage of the weak. That's what Randi accuses Gell- his colleague, of thinking.

[Dymanic]

A couple of thoughts the commentary brought to my mind.

One is that I can't help but wonder to what degree many of the 'charlatans' are actually aware of the falsity of what they promote...
It's difficult to understand how an astrologer can knowingly issue drivel as a monthly airline magazine column
I would guess that it is because they (a lot of them, anyway) actually do believe. We can continue to seek better ways to encourage critical thinking, but we must allow room for honest mistakes. Although it is undeniably true that there are many who would seek profit and recognition by peddling illusions, I don't think all bad science has deliberate fraud as its intent; surely there must be some who are just overenthusiastic and sloppy.

Call me a Pollyanna.

Another thing the commentary made me think about is the reliance we must, by necessity, place on the findings of others (including scientists).
Science, to so many of us, is an occult procedure carried out by strange old people in white coats, carrying about smoking test-tubes and speaking fluent algebra.
Whatever the imagery invoked, it is often the case that the substantive findings of work in a particular field are expressed in terms that will be mostly incomprehensible to anyone but an expert in that field; even scientists with considerable knowledge in one area may have to accept many ideas emerging out of another area of research based on little more than the reputation of the individuals and institutions conducting the research.

[Smalso]

Part of the imagery comes from the stories and films that gave us nightmares when we were children. The bad guy is the "mad" scientist or the "mad" doctor. It's seldom the mad accountant or the mad plumber.

[BillyJoe]

Originally posted by Dymanic
Whatever the imagery invoked, it is often the case that the substantive findings of work in a particular field are expressed in terms that will be mostly incomprehensible to anyone but an expert in that field; even scientists with considerable knowledge in one area may have to accept many ideas emerging out of another area of research based on little more than the reputation of the individuals and institutions conducting the research. It helps if the research is duplicated by others and the results agree.

[Kopji]

As for me, I favor trying to survive while helping the weaker to get stronger, and thus contribute to society.

I had never even heard of James Randi until a couple years ago... I now consider it a great loss on my part. His understanding touches the core of how to deal with people fairly. :up