Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Burnee links for Wednesday

Where are we in history? - A C Grayling - To Set Prometheus Free - RichardDawkins.net
The first chapter of A C Grayling's recent book, To Set Prometheus Free. Razor sharp, distinguished and beautifully written.

Divided Minds, Specious Souls § SEEDMAGAZINE.COM
Who am I? Am I the sum of my parts? Or am I just my parts?

Asbestos saga proves our feeble press watchdog has no bark and no bite | Richard Wilson | Science | guardian.co.uk
What happened instead, in my view, speaks volumes both about the character of the Daily Mail, and the credibility of the newspaper industry's self-regulatory body.
Richard Wilson bemoans the time it takes to get a newspaper to admit it was wrong.

And another thing... - sillypunk's posterous
Some ruminations on God and the Universe: Eddington, Jeans, Huxley and Einstein by Chapman Cohen (London, 1931). If you think those nasty new atheists are shrill, maybe you should read what one of the older ones wrote.

Newly opened UK Centre for Intelligent Design claims it will focus on science, not religion | Science | guardian.co.uk:
Riazat Butt reports that the C4ID claims it will focus on the "evidence" for intelligent design. Good luck with that, Mr Noble.

Ray Gosling: 'I looked into that camera. And I just said it' | Jon Ronson | UK news | The Guardian
Why did veteran broadcaster Ray Gosling confess on-air to a mercy killing that he didn't do? (Includes a short video.)

Men like Bishop Eddie Long are fouling the legacy of the civil rights movement. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine
The Hitch remains as sharp and wry as ever.

Phil Zuckerman: Imagine No Religion: Can a Society Be Successful Without It?
The answer, apparently, is yes. Shock! Horror!

The Moral Landscape - By Sam Harris - NYTimes.com
My copy of Sam Harris's new book is apparently on its way to me, but there are several reviews to read in the meantime. This one, by Kwame Anthony Appiah, appears dissatisfied that Harris doesn't stick to accepted categories.

Sam Harris: Can There Be a Science of Good and Evil?
Sam Harris adumbrates the theme of his new book.

Book Review: The Moral Landscape - WSJ.com
Marilynne Robinson doesn't like Sam Harris's new book — mainly because it isn't about what she thinks it ought to be about.

New Statesman - A bad day for Scientology?
David Allen Green (otherwise known as blogger "Jack of Kent") explains why the rise of social media spells the end of intimidation by rich organisations with expensive lawyers.

Science and Morality (Practical Ethics)
More doubts about Sam Harris's thesis. (Personally I'll reserve judgement until I've read the book.)

The Atheist Experience™: Non Credo in Unum Deum: Religion in classical music
Russell Glasser on the merits of religious music — and art inspiration in general.

Science and religion aren't friends - USATODAY.com
Jerry Coyne's rallying cry for science is like a breath of fresh air (particularly for me after enduring the awful pablum of Polkinghorne and Ross on last Saturday's Unbelievable?).

The Last Month, In La Vida Amazing
I went to DragonCon in 2007, and it was a totally mind-blowing experience for me. I agree wholeheartedly with much of what James Randi says in this Swift post about his own most recent attendance at Atlanta's science-fiction extravaganza.