Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Boston_Chemist

(256 posts)
4. I found your post.
Sun Dec 18, 2011, 12:07 AM
Dec 2011

Yes, this video was something I posted in direct response to your post.

Someone complained about a couple of posts I made in that thread, most likely due to their faulty comprehension of the English language. This is alarming in a people that seem to keep such a close eye on language for silly infringements.

My experience has been that people in the sciences view most of the humanities with a mixture of horror and contempt. Horror at the political fads that seem to engulf it, and contempt due to the absence of a "systematic method" that may allow people to arrive at fundamental, unalterable truths. There is also a strong component of nerd elitism at play.

Richard Dawkins, in this video, was sounding some sort of an alarm at the encroachment of that world onto the world of the scientific method. The presumption that these ... hacks would try to dominate the discourse in their field. And the reason this matters, at least from my point of view, is what I posted: Trofim Lysenko:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trofim_Lysenko

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience»Dawkins, on the "Pos...»Reply #4