tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post3430463354684203192..comments2024-03-26T06:17:49.527-07:00Comments on Had Enough Therapy?: Steven Pinker, Cosmopolitan Person with Deep FeelingsStuart Schneidermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12784043736879991769noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-79390234617038474342018-02-22T16:22:02.059-08:002018-02-22T16:22:02.059-08:00I see Pinker was interviewed for PBS NewsHour. I t...I see Pinker was interviewed for PBS NewsHour. I think the strength of his argument is saying something like "Without progress, the alternative is despair and people will stop striving to make things better" while the weakness of his argument is similar, that when the "signs" of progress disappears, the signs that keeps individuals striving, we can fall very fast back into Carl Sagan's feared "Demon Haunted World" where superstition wins out.<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvEiiYfVXnk If you're worried about the world, here’s reason to be hopeful -- and keep worryingAres Olympushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09726811306826601686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-71739510216975565612018-02-20T16:27:12.612-08:002018-02-20T16:27:12.612-08:00Intellectuals are fascinated by common sense, so l...Intellectuals are fascinated by common sense, so long as it is accompanied by data sets.Ignatius Acton Chesterton OCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18222603717128565302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-20617526986676269962018-02-20T08:47:12.603-08:002018-02-20T08:47:12.603-08:00G. Orwell: "That is so ridiculous, only an in...G. Orwell: "That is so ridiculous, only an intellectual would believe it". - Rich LaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-84985107453960708242018-02-19T14:01:23.686-08:002018-02-19T14:01:23.686-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Ares Olympushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09726811306826601686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-71359737905203618612018-02-19T12:33:40.546-08:002018-02-19T12:33:40.546-08:00Sam, there's an Afghan saying, "The libta...Sam, there's an Afghan saying, "The libtard speaks and the viper spits, no one grows fat on the difference."Jack Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17873320680596889057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-55390503404882603512018-02-19T12:30:03.016-08:002018-02-19T12:30:03.016-08:00So, basically, he's lying to us. Or propagand...So, basically, he's lying to us. Or propagandizing; same same.Sam L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00996809377798862214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-34938038406595510752018-02-19T07:53:32.078-08:002018-02-19T07:53:32.078-08:00"Pinker shares the 18th-century Enlightenment..."Pinker shares the 18th-century Enlightenment’s faith in cosmopolitanism. He is on the side of 'globalisation, racial diversity, women’s empowerment, secularism, urbanisation [and] education'"<br /><br />"Globalization" in the 18th century meant empire.<br /><br />"Racial diversity" meant having a racially diverse empire.<br /><br />"Education" meant ensuring the yokels could understand enough to safely operate machinery.<br /><br />"Secularism": decoupling "divine right" from "kings", no longer a particularly timely issue.<br /><br />"urbanization", when you need to convert country bumpkins into factory drones.<br /><br />"women's empowerment", when you need to convert country lasses into factory drones.Jack Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17873320680596889057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078379512095504946.post-36304460411937384512018-02-19T05:59:56.291-08:002018-02-19T05:59:56.291-08:00OT, I know, but Pinker reminds me of an 18th Centu...OT, I know, but Pinker reminds me of an 18th Century dandy. And he doesn't even need a wig.<br /><br />http://stevenpinker.com/files/pinker/files/steven_pinker_with_william_james_portrait_in_william_james_hall_by_rose_lincoln_harvard_university_0.jpg?m=1440014334<br /><br />:-DRedactednoreply@blogger.com