Search found 235 matches

by tbarron
Mon Jan 19, 2015 7:32 am
Forum: Demon-Haunted World: Science As a Candle in the Dark - by Carl Sagan with Ann Druyan
Topic: Carl Sagan interview "The Demon-Haunted World"
Replies: 12
Views: 7899
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Carl Sagan interview "The Demon-Haunted World"

This material raises basic philosophical challenges regarding the rational attitude towards things we don’t understand. I have been having a debate with an astronomer who maintains that his theory of reality is restricted to things he understands. I say that is a category mistake, because the conce...
by tbarron
Fri Jan 16, 2015 7:22 am
Forum: Demon-Haunted World: Science As a Candle in the Dark - by Carl Sagan with Ann Druyan
Topic: Chapter 1: The most precious thing
Replies: 63
Views: 36134
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Chapter 1: The most precious thing

Carl writes, "Plainly there is no way back. Like it or not, we are stuck with science." In the sense that scientific reality testing is the only way to know what's true about the universe, I would agree. However, on first reading, my response to that statement was to reflect on the loss of...
by tbarron
Fri Jan 16, 2015 7:03 am
Forum: Demon-Haunted World: Science As a Candle in the Dark - by Carl Sagan with Ann Druyan
Topic: Chapter 1: The most precious thing
Replies: 63
Views: 36134
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Chapter 1: The most precious thing

TIS Total Irrationality of Society BIG Belief in God OIB Other Irrational Beliefs TIS = BIG + OIB If, according to Interbane, as atheism increases BIG decreases but OIB increases so that TIS remains unchanged, what benefit does society derive from atheism? That argument cuts both ways. If TIS remai...
by tbarron
Mon Apr 28, 2014 6:52 am
Forum: Religion & Philosophy
Topic: Why doesn't God heal amputees?
Replies: 45
Views: 11149
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Why doesn't God heal amputees?

Possibilities: 0) God does heal some of them. Haven't you heard the stories? 1) Because God is not powerful enough to regenerate limbs. 2) Because God is punishing the amputee or teaching them a life lesson. 3) Because God doesn't like amputees well enough to be nice to them. 4) Because God doesn't ...
by tbarron
Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:26 pm
Forum: Current Events & History
Topic: After Newtown, How Safe Are We?
Replies: 37
Views: 17137
Gender:
United States of America

Re: After Newtown, How Safe Are We?

In our favoured part of the world, the risk of sending kids to school should be so small that it would take a mathamatician to fully appreciate the figure quoted. It should not be so high that miniature body armor is sought by parents, as it is now. It is!!! Events like Newtown are extremely rare c...
by tbarron
Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:38 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Word Game
Replies: 103
Views: 26292
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Word Game

line - drawing
by tbarron
Sun Dec 23, 2012 5:10 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Oh, So You Want to Write a Screenplay, Do You?
Replies: 6
Views: 2353
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Oh, So You Want to Write a Screenplay, Do You?

Good research, definitely more ancient. Though you'll note that I referred to it as the "bible." Not the "Bible." That was intentional. Okay, now I'm nitpicking. :) Copying and pasting from your original essay: The world of story theory is an ancient one -- literally. In fact, a...
by tbarron
Sun Dec 23, 2012 4:47 pm
Forum: Current Events & History
Topic: After Newtown, How Safe Are We?
Replies: 37
Views: 17137
Gender:
United States of America

Re: After Newtown, How Safe Are We?

It is. And there are some related issues I'd like to call attention to: 1. It's not only in the US that American weapons have been killing children. When innocents are the victims of American weapons in Afghanistan, in Israel, in Iraq, in Mexico, Colombia, or anywhere else, it's just as much a trage...
by tbarron
Sun Dec 23, 2012 3:02 pm
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Oh, So You Want to Write a Screenplay, Do You?
Replies: 6
Views: 2353
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Oh, So You Want to Write a Screenplay, Do You?

The world of story theory is an ancient one -- literally. In fact, among many professional writers, Aristotle's <u>Poetics</u> is considered the bible. You don't get much more ancient than that. Unless maybe you go back to the actual Bible. Not to nitpick, but I looked up the dates for Aristotle's ...
by tbarron
Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:47 am
Forum: Everything Else
Topic: Oh, So You Want to Write a Screenplay, Do You?
Replies: 6
Views: 2353
Gender:
United States of America

Re: Oh, So You Want to Write a Screenplay, Do You?

Good advice, and not just about screenplays, and not just about writing. This could apply to software development, term paper writing in school, advertising campaigns, any kind of design, etc.

Go to advanced search