Even funnier than this, actually, are the comments that Adams' minions left on Pharyngula. I note, without comment, that the flames began almost exactly at 8 AM on the East Coast.
OK, I can't resist a comment. It's not at all surprising that a comedian whose whole schtick is calling people idiots has a fan base made up mostly of people who think he's not talking about them.
He has weird magical beliefs. He thinks if you write down an "affirmation", it will come true. Things like "I will become a syndicated cartoonist", but also "the next stock I randomly pick will be a winner". I don't think he is religious.
Vox Day has a defense of "Prussian Blue" on his web page. Neo-nazis are so misunderstood.
I don't even get how the conflict of interest works. Biologists have a professional interest in teaching biology, sure, but if ID were a serious part of biology, they'd teach that. It's not like anyone would lose their jobs. All the researchers could keep on doing research... what would biologists have to lose by taking ID seriously, if it were worth serious consideration?
He makes glib references to Hume and Berkeley -- or at least to their work -- and draws conclusions from them that don't follow.
For instance: 1. Causation is an assumption. Therefore, 2. Evolution does not exist.
To the extent that 2 follows, you could insert any other facet of human knowledge -- such as carpentry, or computer programming -- and it likewise would follow. In other words, it doesn't get you anywhere. It doesn't make sense to stop using penicillin, and instead write "I won't get sick" on a piece of paper, because David Hume showed that causation is a human assumption.
I actually agree that the ACLU is overly zealous in that department. I believe in separation of church and state, but there is a saying "the law cares not for trifles." The ACLU, on the other hand, seems to litigate a lot of trifles.
That's some bold defense from a pro-torture libertarian.
much funnier, albeit in a very different way
"funnier" as in, not ha-ha funnier, but as in, our-civilization-is-crumbling-about-our-ears funnier?
Posted by slolernr | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 3:20 PM
Even funnier than this, actually, are the comments that Adams' minions left on Pharyngula. I note, without comment, that the flames began almost exactly at 8 AM on the East Coast.
Posted by neil | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 3:23 PM
Also noted without comment.
Posted by neil | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 3:28 PM
OK, I can't resist a comment. It's not at all surprising that a comedian whose whole schtick is calling people idiots has a fan base made up mostly of people who think he's not talking about them.
Posted by neil | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 3:30 PM
What a glib lightweight. He refuses to read books by biologists because they have a conflict of interest (they make their living teaching evolution).
Posted by John Emerson | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 4:00 PM
Evolution of Teh Funny.
Posted by Andy Vance | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 4:07 PM
He has weird magical beliefs. He thinks if you write down an "affirmation", it will come true. Things like "I will become a syndicated cartoonist", but also "the next stock I randomly pick will be a winner". I don't think he is religious.
Vox Day has a defense of "Prussian Blue" on his web page. Neo-nazis are so misunderstood.
Posted by Joe O | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 4:21 PM
I don't even get how the conflict of interest works. Biologists have a professional interest in teaching biology, sure, but if ID were a serious part of biology, they'd teach that. It's not like anyone would lose their jobs. All the researchers could keep on doing research... what would biologists have to lose by taking ID seriously, if it were worth serious consideration?
As far as I can tell, not a blessed thing.
Posted by LizardBreath | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 4:25 PM
He makes glib references to Hume and Berkeley -- or at least to their work -- and draws conclusions from them that don't follow.
For instance: 1. Causation is an assumption. Therefore, 2. Evolution does not exist.
To the extent that 2 follows, you could insert any other facet of human knowledge -- such as carpentry, or computer programming -- and it likewise would follow. In other words, it doesn't get you anywhere. It doesn't make sense to stop using penicillin, and instead write "I won't get sick" on a piece of paper, because David Hume showed that causation is a human assumption.
Posted by text | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 4:28 PM
Text, he doesn't give a rat's ass. He's just pulling people's chains, which cracks himself up.
Posted by Andy Vance | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 4:35 PM
Andy, I didn't read far into the site, because I was late for they gym, but do you get the sense this is all a put-on?
I thought it was a sort of aw-shucks folksy wisdom adapted for the cubicle set-- but that he was moderately serious.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 11-15-05 8:49 PM
On other blog fronts (I did my own say about Scott Adams yesterday morning), look, gang, Glenn Reynolds, defender of the ACLU!
Posted by Gary Farber | Link to this comment | 11-16-05 5:40 AM
That's some bold defense from a pro-torture libertarian.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 11-16-05 7:14 AM
Has it ever occured to any of you that Glenn is just pulling people's chains? It really gets him off.
Posted by neil | Link to this comment | 11-16-05 7:25 AM
I think "GOP hack" is a more elegant explanation.
Posted by Matt Weiner | Link to this comment | 11-16-05 7:52 AM