May 15, 2012
Category: Anti-Creationism
Sometimes I wonder what the mailman thinks of me. One day he's delivering the new issue of Free Inquiry, the next he's leaving something from Creation Ministries International.
The latest missive from CMI contains a lengthy pamphlet advertising their forthcoming Creation Superconference. Of course, having been to the Creation Megaconference at Liberty University back in 2005 (as described in the first section of the BECB), a Creation Superconference doesn't seem so impressive. Still, just browsing through the pamphlet made me feel that old familiar itch. Is it worth a visit? After all, the front page says it's intended for both families and singles. If I went, maybe I would meet a nice Jewish girl.
Read on »
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 6:00 PM • 4 Comments
May 14, 2012
Category: Evolution
This coming Wednesday, May 16, I will be speaking at the Library of Virginia. I will be discussing my book Among the Creationists Refreshments go from 5:30-6:15. The talk will go from 6:15-7:15, with the plan being to speak for thirty minutes, and then take questions for the remaining time. Then there will be a book signing afterwards.
Hope to see you there!
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 5:21 PM • 3 Comments
Category: Religion
Economist Robin Hanson poses an odd challenge to atheists:
A few days ago I asked why not become religious, if it will give you a better life, even if the evidence for religious beliefs is weak? Commenters eagerly declared their love of truth. Today I'll ask: if you give up the benefits of religion, because you love far truth, why not also give up stories, to gain even more far truth? Alas, I expect that few who claim to give up religion because they love truth will also give up stories for the same reason. Why?
One obvious explanation: many of you live in subcultures where being religious is low status, but loving stories is high status. Maybe you care a lot less about far truth than you do about status.
Well, I'm certainly opposed to reading fiction and pretending that the stories are true. And I'm double-mega opposed to organizing my life around stories that I wrongly believe to be true. Beyond that, though, I don't see the connection between loving truth and not reading fiction. A love for truth just means that you think it is important to distinguish truth from falsity, not that you must never engage in a bit of fantasy.
Read on »
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 4:14 PM • 32 Comments
May 12, 2012
Category: Chess
We're two games down in the big World Chess Championship. The challenger is Boris Gelfand of Israel, squaring off against the defending champion Viswanathan Anand of India. Both games were quick draws, but things have been a little more interesting than that makes it sound. Gelfand whipped out the Grunfeld Defense in game one, which has never been part of his repertoire. Game two was a Semi-Slav. Gelfand, perhaps, had slightly the better of it in both games, but neither ever strayed far from equality. Ten more games to go, so let's see what happens after we get past the feeling-out phase.
Meanwhile, the U. S. Championship continues apace. Here's a little tactical exercise from the first round. White was Hikaru Nakamura, black was Robert Hess. This position actually arose out of ye olde Evans Gambit, one of the oldest openings in the books. It is white to move and win:
Of course, white can win prosaically with 1. Rg3 or 1. Qg6. Black's pieces are just too far away from the kingside to help with the defense. But Nakamura found the flashiest, and most convincing, win. Answer below the fold.
Read on »
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 2:32 PM • 0 Comments
May 11, 2012
Category: Philosophy
I will now follow-up on my post from Tuesday. In that post I made some criticisms of a recent talk given by philosopher Elliott Sober at the University of Chicago, the video of which is available here. In the ensuing comments, couchloc linked to this paper that Sober had written, the early sections of which discuss essentially the same material as what was presented in the talk.
Since it seems to me that the paper confirms everything I said in my original post, I felt it was worth diving in once again. Let me preface this, however, with something that really should go without saying. Nothing that I'm writing here should be interpreted as personally acrimonious towards Sober. I would direct you to this post from May 6 (Jerry did not post the video until May 7), where I linked to an interview I recently did with Think Atheist Radio. After looking at the list of previous guests I mentioned that I was excited to be in such distinguished company. I singled out four names in particular. Follow the link and note the first name on the list if you want to know my opinion of Sober. It is just that I am annoyed with him at the moment, since I think he is being very cavalier with regard to issues I happen to care about.
Since this is going to be a bit long, I have divided things into four sections:
- Did I misrepresent Sober's argument?
- Are there any scientists who hold the extreme view Sober argues against?
- Is it trivial to show that modern science does not rule out the possibility of God-guided mutations?
- Is evolution silent on the question of whether God is involved in evolution?
Let us begin.
Read on »
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 7:16 PM • 180 Comments
May 10, 2012
Category: Anti-Creationism
I'm planning to do a follow-up to Tuesday's post about Elliott Sober's recent talk. That is likely to be a long post, so ti may be a day or two before I can get to it.
In the meantime, go have a look at my new post over at The Huffington Post. I suggest that on the subject of evolution and creationism, Americans would benefit from a bit more cynicism. Let me know what you think!
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 3:11 PM • 16 Comments
May 9, 2012
Category: Politics
I only have time for a quick post today, so let us take note of the happy fact that Obama has now come out squarely in support of gay marriage. In an interview today he said:
I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even now that Don't Ask Don't Tell is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage, at a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married.
The real news here is that Obama plainly believes it is now a political winner for him to take this stand, or at least not a political loser. Anyone remotely willing to read between the lines of his previous public statements on this issue could tell that he personally did not have a problem with gay marriage, but he was afraid of the political repercussions of coming out in favor of it.
There's still a real political risk here. The people who are opposed to gay marriage tend to be really, really opposed to it. There's a danger that dispirited Republican voters who might have stayed home rather than bother to vote for Romney might now be more motivated to vote. In a state like North Carolina, which went for Obama last time but which also just voted in favor of a draconian anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment, that could make a difference.
So good for Obama for taking a courageous stand on an important social issue. The Democrats have been weak and craven for too long on these sorts of questions. Now if we could only get them to come out squarely in support of women's reproductive rights and the separation of church and state.
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 4:26 PM • 68 Comments
May 8, 2012
Category: Chess
For anyone who likes chess, the next few weeks are going to be very good indeed. The United States Chess Championships started today in St. Louis. The first round started a little over ninety minutes ago, but there has already been a strange occurrence. Have a look at this position:
Playing white was Alexander Stripunsky, On the black side was Alexander Onischuk. We are eleven moves in to a very unusual line of the Caro-Kann Defense, with white to move. He uncorked the interesting 12. d3?? It seems natural enough, since it prepares to develop the bishop and attacks the black queen. Alas, white simply forgot that his bishop on c1 is unprotected. He resigned before black could play 12. Qxc1+.
As an amateur player with a long history of making such moves, I always find it a bit comforting to see the grandmasters mess up so badly. I actually played Stripunsky many years ago, in the first round of the U. S. Amateur Team East. He showed up forty-five minutes late due to some problem checking in to the hotel, but still pounded on me pretty good.
But the U. S. Championship is just the opening act! The World Championship begins on Friday in Moscow. Defending champion Viswanathan Anand of India faces off against Boris Gelfand, from Israel by way of Russia. Will I be posting updates? Oh yes, there will be updates...
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 4:03 PM • 16 Comments
May 7, 2012
Category: Philosophy
If you spend any significant amount of time doing science or mathematics then some amount of philosophical reflection is inevitable. At some point you are going to take a step back and wonder what it is you are actually doing. I think it is good that there are people out there who ponder such things professionally.
That said, I think it is also true that scientists and mathematicians tend to view the philosophers of their disciplines as a bit eccentric. As far as I know, I have never met a mathematician who finds it interesting to ask whether numbers exist, or who enjoys debating the relative merits of Platonism versus formalism. I have no doubt that in some vague, unquantifiable way the world is a better place because clever people have written at length on these questions, but I just cannot work up any professional interest in them. For that matter, I have the same reaction towards many of the other esoteric things academics sometimes obsess over.
Of course, the relation between scientists, especially physicists, and philosophers of science has sometimes been a bit chilly. Richard Feynman famously quipped, to nods of approval from many scientists, that the philosophy of science is as useful to scientists as ornithology is to birds. In his recent book The Grand Design, Stephen Hawking was decidedly unkind toward philosophers of science. And most recently we have Lawrence Krauss saying this:
Read on »
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 11:19 PM • 128 Comments
May 6, 2012
Category: Anti-Creationism • Evolution
I recently had a conversation with Greg Gorey of Think Atheist Radio about my book Among the Creationists. We discussed the history and cultures of creationism, the problem of evil, methodological naturalism, my experiences socializing with creationists and several other things besides. From my end I can honestly say it was one of the most interesting conversations I have had on these topics, so I hope you enjoy it. The discussion is fifty minutes long. So go have a listen and let me know what you think!
At the bottom of the web page linked above, there is a crawl at the bottom showing the previous guests of the show. It's a real thrill to be in the company of Elliott Sober, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Lisa Randall, Graham Oppy, and so many other brilliant folks. I can see I have lots of listening to get caught up on!
Posted by Jason Rosenhouse at 7:48 PM • 19 Comments
