Wow.
So Ellen went back to Melbourne yesterday and I became nutritionaly instantly a bachelor.
Part of my breakfast this morning was a packet of chips.
Dinner was pistaccios, some dutch almond biscuits and three beers.
Oh, and we've run out of washing-up liquid, so the washing-up is piling up.
Oh, and my fly's undone.
Fuck it: I think it's time to line up the shots and put on some real hair band rock.
(exits waving whiskey bottle and singing "Pour Some Sugar on Me")
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Strawman - Eagleton v Dawkins
Terry Eagleton "is, among other things, professor of cultural theory at the National University of Ireland, Galway. His latest book is Reason, Faith and Revolution: Reflections on the God Debate."
For the London Review of Books he wrote Lunging, Flailing, Mispunching a review of 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins (yes, this was back in 2006).
It is a pin-up straw-man argument. Yet again I am astounded by how smart people aren't.
I recommend reading it.
It starts with this "Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology."
Tadaa! The straw-man is constructed in the first sentence!
It is tempting to think that Eagleton's title was perfect irony.
My cousin, Dan, put it very well in his review of Eagleton's review:
"Richard Dawkins is a small man words words words words longword words words longword words words words words longword words words longword words words Richard Dawkins doesn't know much about what it means to be really bloody clever AND a Christian words words words words longword words words longword words It is okay to believe and not be really bloody clever, it is NOT okay to refute and be clever too Look over there! Ha, distracted you. Now you can't possibly disagree with me. Richard Dawkins is a small man words words words words longword words words longword words words words words longword words words longword words words. Dear reader, please ignore that Dawkins excels in a field of research that demands clear and eloquent demonstration and that religion is open to any number of permutations of interpretation. Please also ignore that theology and religion are not the same thing. Richard Dawkins is a small man."
For the London Review of Books he wrote Lunging, Flailing, Mispunching a review of 'The God Delusion' by Richard Dawkins (yes, this was back in 2006).
It is a pin-up straw-man argument. Yet again I am astounded by how smart people aren't.
I recommend reading it.
It starts with this "Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology."
Tadaa! The straw-man is constructed in the first sentence!
It is tempting to think that Eagleton's title was perfect irony.
My cousin, Dan, put it very well in his review of Eagleton's review:
"Richard Dawkins is a small man words words words words longword words words longword words words words words longword words words longword words words Richard Dawkins doesn't know much about what it means to be really bloody clever AND a Christian words words words words longword words words longword words It is okay to believe and not be really bloody clever, it is NOT okay to refute and be clever too Look over there! Ha, distracted you. Now you can't possibly disagree with me. Richard Dawkins is a small man words words words words longword words words longword words words words words longword words words longword words words. Dear reader, please ignore that Dawkins excels in a field of research that demands clear and eloquent demonstration and that religion is open to any number of permutations of interpretation. Please also ignore that theology and religion are not the same thing. Richard Dawkins is a small man."
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