1. Character Attacks: How to Properly Apply the Ad Hominem

Comment #187667 by Machinus on June 2, 2008 at 12:43 pm

This doesn't change any of the rules of logic. It's still wrong to consider the argumenter when thinking about an argument.

2. Evolution's Critics Shift Tactics With Schools

Comment #174976 by Machinus on May 4, 2008 at 2:41 am

I'm from the U.S.

We're royally screwed.

Someone please help us.

3. Does science make belief in God obsolete?

Comment #170055 by Machinus on April 27, 2008 at 10:13 am

Fuck templeton. They only ask the most misleading questions.

Belief in god is obsolete A PRIORI. An intelligent person should completely reject stupid and ridiculous ideas regardless of the presence of good ones. Science makes belief in God LAUGHABLE.

4. Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss

Comment #161307 by Machinus on April 15, 2008 at 6:32 am

damn you krauss! i was going to do my taxes this morning

5. Sci-fi guru Clarke to have secular funeral

Comment #146834 by Machinus on March 19, 2008 at 1:24 pm

I think it's quite important to pay attention to burial rituals. In a society where we are harassed by mysticism even in death it makes a strong point to rid ourselves and our friends of this menace whenver we can. It would be a dishonor to respect such stupid beliefs during the recognition of someone with as beloved contributions as ACC.

6. The Atheist Apocalypse

Comment #145966 by Machinus on March 18, 2008 at 12:13 pm

This is promising. Write something more biting!

7. Inventor Doesn't Dare Say 'Perpetual Motion Machine'

Comment #124147 by Machinus on February 8, 2008 at 1:23 pm

maybe perpetual motion is real after all...

HAHAHAHA

8. The Repeater

Comment #118242 by Machinus on January 30, 2008 at 2:02 pm

How do genes know to violate parity like that?

9. How Evolution REALLY Works

Comment #112563 by Machinus on January 17, 2008 at 1:20 pm

That was a neat simulation but some of the rhetoric here is just wrong.

Mathematical truths are higher than scientific theories. We shouldn't be giving away free objections to those who spend all of their time looking for ways to obfuscate genuine scientific advancement for political purposes.

10. Taking Science on Faith

Comment #90521 by Machinus on November 25, 2007 at 12:20 pm

Davies' work serves little else but as apologetics for theology. I'm a physicist and I appreciate good scientists in my own field, but he knows exactly the effect he is having and he does it anyway.

There is no sensible comparison between faith and science, and at this point just comparing the two makes it harder for society to be free. Writing an article for the NY times about how scientists have "faith" in their work is a blatant attack on naturalism.

11. Taking Science on Faith

Comment #90505 by Machinus on November 25, 2007 at 11:21 am

Steve99, you're reading into the article way too much.

Davies states that the naturalistic assumption is equivalent to theological epistemology because neither can be proven.

This is ridiculous, and he knows it. Scientists take naturalism seriously because when we assume it, we get the entirety of scientific discovery, and that is as verifiable as anything gets.

There is NO faith here. As soon as someone finds a part of the universe that doesn't work naturalistically, science will change. It has never happened, and the RATIONAL scientist has no reason to suspect that it ever will.

12. Response to My Fellow 'Atheists'

Comment #77152 by Machinus on October 8, 2007 at 3:38 pm

Sam - I'm sure you won't read down this far, but you should not doubt the necessity of positivist metaphysics.

We need to stop telling the supernaturalists that they need to replace their beleifs with ours. We should start telling them to give up belief altogether, and acting the part.

13. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #74998 by Machinus on October 1, 2007 at 10:10 am

It's not going to go away until a majority believes it's bullshit. But to get the majority to think that, one must use the same means the church does to deceive people in the first place.

Aldous Huxley once wrote about an experiment on Cyprus...

14. Our Lives, Controlled From Some Guy's Couch

Comment #63423 by Machinus on August 14, 2007 at 5:32 am

This is nonsense. Computer simulations of life aren't alive, and we are certainly that.

Computers couldn't reproduce the detail that exists in reality anyway.

15. The Republican War on Science Rages On

Comment #55892 by Machinus on July 12, 2007 at 7:12 pm

You're a bit late on this one CNN...where were you when they were exploiting the country the last five years?

16. Lecture on Sex Ratio Theory and Sexual Selection

Comment #52989 by Machinus on June 28, 2007 at 11:58 pm

Having attributes that positively affect mating success would be very useful. The offspring might be less viable in terms of survival, but in terms of passing on their genes, they might be much fitter. This is my interpretation of the video.

17. Lecture on Sex Ratio Theory and Sexual Selection

Comment #52945 by Machinus on June 28, 2007 at 4:10 pm

I have a quick question for Richard!

You said that the females' taste in males would itself be subject to natural selection. Doesn't it follow from this that if the particular attributes being used to affect mating success were NOT indicative of anything useful, that the offspring of those females would be less viable, and that the gene pool would eventually eliminate any unnecessary tastes from females during mating?

18. Pop Tech Lecture

Comment #36332 by Machinus on May 1, 2007 at 12:20 am

As offensive as many of my colleagues find him, I am always pleased with the eloquence and clarity of Dr. Dawkins' lectures. Thank you for this one!

19. Why the Gods Are Not Winning

Comment #36326 by Machinus on April 30, 2007 at 11:53 pm

"But the level and nature of popular faith is really set by economic conditions, and only secular egalitarian prosperous democracies that reject extreme social Darwinism can produce the best practical conditions."

What about intelligence? Surely there is some correlation between smarter people and an appetite for rigorous and honestly satisfying ideas. Are you seriously trying to reduce the entirety of cultural philosophy to economics?

20. Scene Caused by Christian Group at NYC Stage Show

Comment #35825 by Machinus on April 29, 2007 at 2:26 am

This wasn't about homosexuality, or heterosexuality, or immorality. It was about profanity! The f-word! I can't imagine the profound ignorance and absolute incompetence necessary to get just one person to be this primitive - and there were almost a hundred of them! It's horrifying.

21. Pundit Christopher Hitchens picks a fight in book, 'God is Not Great'

Comment #35823 by Machinus on April 29, 2007 at 2:05 am

Obviously the person who wrote this review has felt the effect of rational criticism. The world has a tougher time justfying insanity when books like this exist.

22. Evolution Booklet

Comment #35534 by Machinus on April 27, 2007 at 2:06 pm

Terrific science, but rubbish philosophy. Their toleration for supernaturalism will destroy any positive effects of science education.

23. God Is in the Dendrites

Comment #35472 by Machinus on April 27, 2007 at 9:12 am

Is every neuropathologist a completely spineless fool? Is good medicine being suppressed by business pressures like alienating the clientele? When are the professionals going to start telling people to stop encouraging their vegetative fantasies?

24. Beatrix Potter, scientist

Comment #31022 by Machinus on April 10, 2007 at 4:39 pm

Inspiring.

25. Religion in Conflict: Are 'Evangelical Atheists' Too Outspoken?

Comment #23294 by Machinus on February 27, 2007 at 4:11 pm

No wants to admit they are not in control of their lives. Unfortunately for those human beings concerned with truth, it is more profitable to tell people they talk to God, and then collect their tithe and cable fee for Fox.

26. Der Digitale Planet (lecture)

Comment #22997 by Machinus on February 25, 2007 at 3:17 pm

Simply brilliant.

If you stay tuned, the panel video plays.