Humanist Take over!

Stan Shannon

Interesting connections. I happened to look at this post[^] in the lounge. Curious, I looked up this [^]guy. which led me to this [^]site which led me to this[^] and this[^] and this[^] which reminded me a lot of the logo for this ad[^] that has been running at the top of codeproject today.

Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.

Oakman

"In all the human societies we have ever reviewed, in every age and in every state, there has seldom if ever been a shortage of eager young males prepared to kill and die to preserve the security, comfort and prejudices of their elders, and what you call heroism is just an expression of this fact; there is never a scarcity of idiots." Scotland sure isn't what it used to be, is it? The guy talks as if he doesn't even know who William Wallace was.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.

Rob Graham

Bored today?

Rob Graham

With any luck, there won't be any interested in preserving his.

Stan Shannon

Oakman wrote:

there has seldom if ever been a shortage of eager young males prepared to kill and die to preserve the security, comfort and prejudices of their elders, and what you call heroism is just an expression of this fact; there is never a scarcity of idiots."

Comments like that make me question the sanity of those who promote them. Does he mean that nothing, including humanism, is worthy of being defended? Why would anyone promote a philosophy they consider unworthy of being defended?

Chaining ourselves to the moral high ground does not make us good guys. Aside from making us easy targets, it merely makes us idiotic prisoners of our own self loathing.

Oakman

I suppose it could be said that he is simply a lot more honest about his feelings than all the folks who "support the troops," but only from a safe distance.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.

Rob Graham

You mean that he cloaks his cowardice in noble sounding words?

Ilion

Stan Shannon wrote:

Comments like that make me question the sanity of those who promote them. Does he mean that nothing, including humanism, is worthy of being defended? Why would anyone promote a philosophy they consider unworthy of being defended?

This is where the so-called Enlightenment naturally leads.

Oakman

Rob Graham wrote:

You mean that he cloaks his cowardice in noble sounding words?

Yes. And makes himself oh so much more noble by heaping contempt on those who are willing to put their lives on the line for what they believe in. Better he save that scorn for those who were too busy, or had pylenoidal cysts, to step forward themselves, but who now are ready to send our army anywhere, anytime.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.

Lost User

This is a quote from an SF novel 'Use of Weapons'. The quote "In all the human societies we have ever reviewed, in every age and in every state..." I imagined as being spoken by one of those superior beings that frequent such novels. It turns out that said novel apparently about an organization (the Culture) which changes the destiny of planets for their own ends through intrigue, dirty tricks or military action. Possibly not Iain's take on heroism, merely that of a character?

Bob Emmett

Lost User

The quote "In all the human societies we have ever reviewed, in every age and in every state..." is from an SF novel 'Use of Weapons'. I imagined it as being spoken by one of those superior beings that frequent such novels. It turns out that said novel is about an organization (the Culture) which changes the destiny of planets for their own ends through intrigue, dirty tricks or military action. Possibly this is not Iain's take on heroism, merely that of a character?

Bob Emmett

Lost User

This is a quote from an SF novel 'Use of Weapons'. About 'The Culture' which changes the destiny of planets for its own ends through intrigue, dirty tricks or military action. Have you considered that it might be the statement of a character in that novel, rather than Iain's own take on heroism?

Bob Emmett

Oakman

Bob Emmett wrote:

Possibly not Iain's take on heroism, merely that of a character?

You make a good point. Larry Niven once said something to the effect that the technical term for people who believe that authors have the same op[inions as their characters, is "idiots." When I saw the quote, I did not realise it came from a character instead of an interview.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.

Ilion

Bob Emmett wrote:

Have you considered that it might be the statement of a character in that novel, rather than Iain's own take on heroism?

Have you considered that, regardless of the author's mindset, there *are* people -- and quite influential people at that -- with that mindest?

Lost User

Ilíon wrote:

Have you considered that, regardless of the author's mindset, there *are* people -- and quite influential people at that -- with that mindest?

No! Really! :omg:

Bob Emmett

Lost User

I cannot believe I referred to him as Iain in my posts. When he chats on Radio/TV, he comes across as a guy who would be on first name terms with everyone. I have read, and enjoyed, 4 of his novels, but have not read any of his SF (he wasn't around in the 60s - my SF days).

Bob Emmett

Oakman

Bob Emmett wrote:

he wasn't around in the 60s - my SF days

My SF days started in the 50's and haven't ended yet. If it hadn't been for "The Moon is A Harsh Mistress," and "Dream Park," I might never have gotten started with a keyboard.

Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface Algoraphobia: An exaggerated fear of the outside world rooted in the belief that one might spontaneously combust due to global warming.