Thursday, January 22, 2015

Nagel: The Darling of Theists


I can't tell you how many times I have been discussing some issue with theists and they counter my point with something like "Well Thomas Nagel disagrees with you, and he's an atheist."  The implication seems to be that if some particular belief is acceptable to another atheist, it should be acceptable to me.  It is a blatant appeal to authority (since Nagel is a prominent philosopher).

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Sensational Headlines: "Darwin Was Wrong"


Creationists are reveling at the news, absolutely giddy about sensational publications in recent years that feed their confirmation bias.  One of these is What Darwin Got Wrong, by Jerry Fodor and Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini.  Here are two secular scientists saying all the things the creationist wants to hear, stroking their contempt for Charles Darwin, the man who laid the foundations of evolution science and did so much to cast doubt on their precious religious beliefs.