1. Rep. Davis: The Worst Person in the World

Comment #159237 by socratzsche on April 11, 2008 at 5:51 pm

Toccata & Fugue in D minor by JS Bach in the background.

2. 2006 Charles Simonyi Lecture: 'Can the Internet Save The Enlightenment?'

Comment #90902 by socratzsche on November 26, 2007 at 4:08 pm

What's the link for the Nobel interviews?

3. Same Flea, Different Name?

Comment #85912 by socratzsche on November 7, 2007 at 1:08 pm

"[...] he uses reason and evidence to defend such things as miracles [...]"

Since when are "miracles" defended by reason and evidence? Miracles stand above causality.

Here's something that describes every "flea" author:

"When a man feels that he has a divine mission, say to lift up, to save or to liberate mankind--when a man feels the divine spark in his heart and believes that he is the mouthpiece of supernatural imperatives--when such a mission inflames him, it is only natural that he should stand beyond all merely reasonable standards of judgment. He feels that he is himself sanctified by this mission, that he is himself a type of a higher order!...What has a priest to do with philosophy! He stands far above it!--And hitherto the priest has ruled!--He has determined the meaning of "true" and "not true"!

4. I didn't know the FLEA CIRCUS was back in town!

Comment #85087 by socratzsche on November 4, 2007 at 11:53 pm

At least real fleas make one itch.

5. AAI 07

Comment #83913 by socratzsche on October 31, 2007 at 4:07 pm

Brevity: a lost art.

6. AAI 07

Comment #82811 by socratzsche on October 27, 2007 at 7:31 pm

Scooternyc, responsibility has no causal consistency with one's health. And how does your "morality" apply to children--infants? scooternyc: a victim of Ronald Reagan's socialist medicine LP

7. AAI 07

Comment #82692 by socratzsche on October 27, 2007 at 8:54 am

Chapman realizes that standing behind the aegis, as Harris puts in, of reason and science is abstract and thus lacks some humanity that people can empathize with. I'm fine with the coldness but most people aren't--they need "warmth": emotion. An atheist bible--who shall write it?

8. Sam Harris at AAI 07

Comment #82144 by socratzsche on October 25, 2007 at 6:30 pm

Whether to use atheism as a label for oneself does not make a difference to the priest. I don't think this was Harris' point; philosophically, it is futile: the priest declares himself above reason--as a mere messenger of "God's will." Harris is simply saying it is undesirable in terms of social perception.

9. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76595 by socratzsche on October 6, 2007 at 11:51 am

BaronOchs, how does that passage demonstrate its "truth"? It demonstrates the hatred of science ("the wisdom of this world") and of self. This is why a Christian scientist is a most outrageous couple.

10. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76584 by socratzsche on October 6, 2007 at 11:24 am

Richard Dawkins, I submit to you this passage for "Christians":

"Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [...] Not many wise men after the flesh, not men mighty, not many noble are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." (Paul, 1 Corinthians i, 20ff.)

11. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76580 by socratzsche on October 6, 2007 at 11:09 am

A Christian scientist! "Whom, then, does Christianity deny?" - Nietzsche

12. New Rules: A Religious Test

Comment #72956 by socratzsche on September 23, 2007 at 4:05 pm

On Maher's previous episode, Sept. 14, he indirectly revealed that he reads Sam Harris. Put him on the panel!

13. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #66574 by socratzsche on August 30, 2007 at 1:24 pm

You beat me to it Limey!

Friend Giskard, mating habits are instinctual and not, in this case of the Dyak women, morbid sexual aestheticism.

14. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #66523 by socratzsche on August 30, 2007 at 8:49 am

Richard Morgan quibbles about how the hero worship distracts from the debate when, in fact, it is his quibbling that is the actual culprit--and not a particle of criticism of Sam's essay.

EDIT: Oh, I see the criterion of truth is determined if Richard Morgan agrees with it! Charming.

15. Interview with Richard Dawkins on 'The Selfish Gene'

Comment #60833 by socratzsche on August 3, 2007 at 12:55 am

LDmiller, I believe you're referring to artificial selection.

16. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60234 by socratzsche on August 1, 2007 at 11:03 am

For a people with unsurpassed assurance of their beliefs, this says nothing more than insecurity--fear!

17. CNN Debate on Koran in Toilet

Comment #60225 by socratzsche on August 1, 2007 at 10:45 am

Muslims need to realize that their religious freedom is equal to the freedom of expression that offends Islam. Any sensible person can see that the Ukrainian flushing a Koran in the toilet was not an act of intimidation but an act of contempt.

18. Sean Hannity with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #59180 by socratzsche on July 28, 2007 at 12:04 am

Hannity wrote the preface to Tom DeLay's autobiography: http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Qbf402gfL._SS500_.jpg

19. Bill Moyers interviews E.O. Wilson

Comment #59179 by socratzsche on July 27, 2007 at 11:51 pm

I feel somewhat guilty watching this, for I've been feeding some pesky ants honey with a pinch of boric acid. :P

20. All the mistakes of the godly are merely metaphor

Comment #59177 by socratzsche on July 27, 2007 at 11:35 pm

Socrates was simply born too early to witness science unveiling the ugly bride that is religion.