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Re: The Poetry of Science: Neil deGrasse Tyson & Richard Dawkins
Two great explainers of science--and two great ties.
I do want to thank you for that link, because it's my first experience of Tyson and he is quite something. Possibly an even better science educator than Dawkins, at least as a speaker. I watched a few of his other video clips. He has a big personality that kind of dwarfed Dawkins in the conversation--Jupiter vs. Mars.
I side with Dyson on the way to go about navigating the science/religion conflict. He wants to concentrate on putting the facts out there and to strengthen science education but pretty much leave everyone alone to believe in religious doctrine if they wish. We won't convince them otherwise anyway. We just need to guard against it seeping into politics and education. His approach seems to me the "American" one: democratic, non-elitist, and quite friendly.
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Re: The Poetry of Science: Neil deGrasse Tyson & Richard Dawkins
Tyson is my pick to pick up where Carl Sagan left off. He also understands the fundamental wonder and majesty of the understanding you can get from science.
It isn't all staring at beakers and dipping PH strips. The universe, and understanding of it, is amazing. Tyson speaks to that mystery center in the heart of the believer, and offers wonders in the real world for them that utterly dwarf the "mysteries" of religion.
_________________ Have you tried that? Looking for answers? Or have you been content to be terrified of a thing you know nothing about?
Nowhere in the Bible does it state that the truth would be revealed through logic and evidence. -James Williamson MD
Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings.
In the absence of God, I found Man. -Guillermo Del Torro
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. -Derek Bok
You wouldn't like me when i'm angry... Because I always back up my rage with facts and documented sources. -The Credible Hulk
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Re: The Poetry of Science: Neil deGrasse Tyson & Richard Dawkins
I had only watched about half of this before posting the link. I watched the rest last night. Anyway, I don't know much about this event. It was just two guys chatting about the universe. Like DWill, I had never seen much of Tyson before. He's pretty animated, kind of goofy. I liked the way he kept bringing up movies. His answer at the end was priceless. He does seem the heir apparent to Sagan. Someone should put that guy on TV.
Among other things, Tyson discusses the possibility that life on earth was seeded from Mars. That was really interesting to me. Early on, the two men talk about the limitations of our senses and why this would naturally make the universe a very strange place. Tyson uses the ocean as an analogy in a couple of places very effectively. In terms of searching for "intelligent" life, we have only barely scratched the surface. Small data samplings. "It's like dipping a glass in the ocean and concluding that there are no such things as whales."
In response to a question from the audience, Dawkins briefly discusses the divide between religion and science. Most people, he feels, are open to the beauty and majesty of science (I'm paraphrasing here). He mentions the Young Earth Creationist geologist who knows the science and yet remains faithful to his belief. At least he is honest about his position, Dawkins says. The bottom line is there are some people whose faith in scripture simply preempts reason.
_________________ -Geo Who Knows Only His Own Generation Remains Always a Child Cicero, Orator 120
Last edited by geo on Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Poetry of Science: Neil deGrasse Tyson & Richard Dawkins
Quote:
Someone should put that guy on TV.
I've been seeing him on the Sprout channel, a channel for children. In his most recent appearance, less than two minutes ago, he explained why the sky is blue(the blue got snatched!), and why sunsets are red. It was a good explanation.
What i like about him is his enthusiasm for science. I remember one video where a kid asked him a question, and Tyson answered by pointing at the kid and basically yelling his answer back.
I think it kind of freaked the kid out, but it was just Neil being excited about science.
_________________ Have you tried that? Looking for answers? Or have you been content to be terrified of a thing you know nothing about?
Nowhere in the Bible does it state that the truth would be revealed through logic and evidence. -James Williamson MD
Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings.
In the absence of God, I found Man. -Guillermo Del Torro
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. -Derek Bok
You wouldn't like me when i'm angry... Because I always back up my rage with facts and documented sources. -The Credible Hulk
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