Comments on: The Brights http://www.raggedclown.com/2007/01/04/the-brights/ It's just a shadow you're seeing that he's chasing... Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:37:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Kevin http://www.raggedclown.com/2007/01/04/the-brights/#comment-733 Kevin Sat, 13 Jan 2007 18:21:21 +0000 http://www.raggedclown.com/?p=232#comment-733 I also a problem with the word 'mystical' for a while. I finally rationalized my position by concluding that 'mystery' and 'mysterious' captures my sense of wonder and continual asking of questions that I cannot answer. Mystical crosses the line into believing in improbable answers. Chomsky (via Pinker): Our ignorance can be divided into problems and mysteries. I am happy to classify the 'why' questions as mysteries for now. They may be promoted to problems at some point and then science will be able to tackle them. Or they may remain mysteries forever. I am fine with that too. I also a problem with the word ‘mystical’ for a while. I finally rationalized my position by concluding that ‘mystery’ and ‘mysterious’ captures my sense of wonder and continual asking of questions that I cannot answer. Mystical crosses the line into believing in improbable answers.

Chomsky (via Pinker): Our ignorance can be divided into problems and mysteries.

I am happy to classify the ‘why’ questions as mysteries for now. They may be promoted to problems at some point and then science will be able to tackle them. Or they may remain mysteries forever. I am fine with that too.

]]> By: Bob http://www.raggedclown.com/2007/01/04/the-brights/#comment-728 Bob Sat, 13 Jan 2007 10:43:19 +0000 http://www.raggedclown.com/?p=232#comment-728 OK, I'm keen to have a look at the Brights. The logo is pleasing enough and I like their live-and-let-live kindness in responding politely to others with different beliefs. I would worry that to shun all mystical interpretations regarding the world at this date is likely to end up leaving rather dull conversations about a lot of interesting and important "why" philosophical questions, ironic as that is in this circumstance. This of course assumes that you take the view that religion is just another phenomenon that will someday understandable by science but even then will still be a much richer and more expedient mechanism for humans to communicate on the topics that it addresses (big life events like death and morality -- not collection plates.) OK, I’m keen to have a look at the Brights. The logo is pleasing enough and I like their live-and-let-live kindness in responding politely to others with different beliefs.

I would worry that to shun all mystical interpretations regarding the world at this date is likely to end up leaving rather dull conversations about a lot of interesting and important “why” philosophical questions, ironic as that is in this circumstance. This of course assumes that you take the view that religion is just another phenomenon that will someday understandable by science but even then will still be a much richer and more expedient mechanism for humans to communicate on the topics that it addresses (big life events like death and morality — not collection plates.)

]]> By: Matt http://www.raggedclown.com/2007/01/04/the-brights/#comment-675 Matt Fri, 05 Jan 2007 16:23:29 +0000 http://www.raggedclown.com/?p=232#comment-675 "have a naturalistic..." rather than "believe in a naturalistic..."? Avoids all that nasty confusion about belief, though I'd can certainly imagine you saying "I'm not confused, so it's fine". Also flows better IMHO. “have a naturalistic…” rather than “believe in a naturalistic…”?

Avoids all that nasty confusion about belief, though I’d can certainly imagine you saying “I’m not confused, so it’s fine”. Also flows better IMHO.

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