Comments on: Gore’s Cult of Reason http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/ The software industry from a rational perspective Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:34:55 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Eric Toupin http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-20547 Eric Toupin Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:18:44 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/#comment-20547 Allenjs; I will look into Nassim Nicholas books, I appreciate the recommendation. I agree that assumption and reason are mutually exclusive in most cases. My intention was not to attack faith, but only to demonstrate that reason and faith are like oil and water. Granted, that last sentence was a bit more provocative than I intended. Allenjs; I will look into Nassim Nicholas books, I appreciate the recommendation. I agree that assumption and reason are mutually exclusive in most cases. My intention was not to attack faith, but only to demonstrate that reason and faith are like oil and water. Granted, that last sentence was a bit more provocative than I intended.

]]> By: allenjs http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-20477 allenjs Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:27 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/#comment-20477 Eric; yes -- I agree almost entirely with you. I have always had a beef with "apologists" who try to use pure logic and reason to "prove" God. They ruin both reason and faith. I do object somewhat to the statement, "assuming the existence of a deity is unreasonable." Not on fact, but because the statement gives the impression of being a lot more profound than it actually is. In fact, assuming almost anything is unreasonable. I first learned this reading Mandelbrot. I recommend reading either of Nassim Nicholas Taleb's current books ("Fooled by Randomness" or "The Black Swan") to understand why "fear of the never before observed is the beginning of wisdom". Eric; yes — I agree almost entirely with you. I have always had a beef with “apologists” who try to use pure logic and reason to “prove” God. They ruin both reason and faith.

I do object somewhat to the statement, “assuming the existence of a deity is unreasonable.” Not on fact, but because the statement gives the impression of being a lot more profound than it actually is. In fact, assuming almost anything is unreasonable. I first learned this reading Mandelbrot. I recommend reading either of Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s current books (”Fooled by Randomness” or “The Black Swan”) to understand why “fear of the never before observed is the beginning of wisdom”.

]]> By: Eric Toupin http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-20457 Eric Toupin Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:16:10 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/#comment-20457 Good article. I am going to assume here that by reason you mean rational deduction. I do in fact believe that religion is assaulting reason; I read on, contrary to your cautions. There are aspects of this article that I agree with. It is most definitely possible to imbue reason with an ideology akin to religion, as well as the dangers and inaccuracies inherent in many radical religions. I do not believe this to be true reason, in much the same way that most Christians do not believe that David Karesh practiced true Christianity. In fact, reason is unfit for arriving at solutions for any moral or spiritual dilemmas, in that by definition (rational deduction) it is simply a process by which a phenomena becomes predictable through consistent reproduction. Reason itself is not inherently flawed; the limitations of reason are no greater than the sum of evidence unavailable to human perception. Reason and theism are mutually exclusive only in that, given the evidence available to human perception, assuming the existence of a deity is unreasonable. Good article. I am going to assume here that by reason you mean rational deduction. I do in fact believe that religion is assaulting reason; I read on, contrary to your cautions. There are aspects of this article that I agree with. It is most definitely possible to imbue reason with an ideology akin to religion, as well as the dangers and inaccuracies inherent in many radical religions. I do not believe this to be true reason, in much the same way that most Christians do not believe that David Karesh practiced true Christianity. In fact, reason is unfit for arriving at solutions for any moral or spiritual dilemmas, in that by definition (rational deduction) it is simply a process by which a phenomena becomes predictable through consistent reproduction. Reason itself is not inherently flawed; the limitations of reason are no greater than the sum of evidence unavailable to human perception. Reason and theism are mutually exclusive only in that, given the evidence available to human perception, assuming the existence of a deity is unreasonable.

]]> By: Erik Porter http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-18047 Erik Porter Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:13:18 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/#comment-18047 How dare you fight reason with reason! No really...well said! :) How dare you fight reason with reason!

No really…well said! :)

]]> By: allenjs http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-17919 allenjs Mon, 09 Jul 2007 03:48:18 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/#comment-17919 I can't decide if Gore is really doing something great, or ignoring real social problems in favor of grandiose posturing and medieval indulgence-seeking. I wonder, how many books about reason and gaia must one write to be absolved of guilt for letting New Orleans go underwater? If Gore can claim that he "raised awareness" about global warming, does he get a discount on the carbon credits he buys to offset his massive consumption? I can’t decide if Gore is really doing something great, or ignoring real social problems in favor of grandiose posturing and medieval indulgence-seeking. I wonder, how many books about reason and gaia must one write to be absolved of guilt for letting New Orleans go underwater? If Gore can claim that he “raised awareness” about global warming, does he get a discount on the carbon credits he buys to offset his massive consumption?

]]> By: Honestas Optima http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-17808 Honestas Optima Sun, 08 Jul 2007 03:08:43 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/#comment-17808 I'll be honest. I have to admire Al Gore for working to fix what he perceives to be the greatest problem of his day. His labor to propagandize the American public seems sincere enough. And, I cannot fault him for championing the cause of reason over ignorance. When there is a problem, somebody has to lead, and Al Gore is both a leader and a public servant. OK, I wish he had gone further with the "Parental Advisory" label and completely banned that crap music from being sold to kids at all. Moral pollution is a more serious problem facing the world than green house gas pollution. I can complain about moral pollution, but I'm not doing much about it. Gore complains about greenhouse gasses, but he is doing something about it. I envy him. Back to your point. Human reason cannot be trusted. Human reason is always built on incomplete and flawed information. Only one God has all the correct information. So I think the real concern for this nation, and the for the world, is moral pollution, not greenhouse gas pollution. I'm pretty sure it was LBJ who often quoted Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." I’ll be honest. I have to admire Al Gore for working to fix what he perceives to be the greatest problem of his day. His labor to propagandize the American public seems sincere enough. And, I cannot fault him for championing the cause of reason over ignorance. When there is a problem, somebody has to lead, and Al Gore is both a leader and a public servant.

OK, I wish he had gone further with the “Parental Advisory” label and completely banned that crap music from being sold to kids at all. Moral pollution is a more serious problem facing the world than green house gas pollution.

I can complain about moral pollution, but I’m not doing much about it. Gore complains about greenhouse gasses, but he is doing something about it. I envy him.

Back to your point. Human reason cannot be trusted. Human reason is always built on incomplete and flawed information.

Only one God has all the correct information. So I think the real concern for this nation, and the for the world, is moral pollution, not greenhouse gas pollution. I’m pretty sure it was LBJ who often quoted Isaiah 1:18:

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

]]> By: Matt http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/comment-page-1/#comment-17762 Matt Sat, 07 Jul 2007 16:00:18 +0000 http://www.netcrucible.com/blog/2007/07/06/gores-cult-of-reason/#comment-17762 Funny how I surfed onto this blog purely by chance, because it is certainly one of the more interesting ones. This post I agree with 100%, its not only religious people who can be fanatical. Funny how I surfed onto this blog purely by chance, because it is certainly one of the more interesting ones. This post I agree with 100%, its not only religious people who can be fanatical.

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