The Atheist Agora

..or at least a non sequitur….as most people who use the Galileo Gambit aren’t making a formal logical argument….it appeals not to reason but to ego, making it less an argument and more a psychological defense mechanism.

Yes, I guess it is more of a cognitive bias than a logical fallacy.

Reg,

The Galileo Gambit is like the inverse of the Appeal to Popularity Fallacy. Both are based on the false notion that truth depends on numbers of adherants.

I am still thinking about what the ideas of the Enlightenment……..

The Lillian Hellman Fallacy and the Galileo Gambit.

There’s a predictable pattern in modern argument, especially online, where someone with a weak or poorly supported claim begins by presenting themselves as a courageous dissenter—someone who “refuses to cut their consc…[Read more]

Appreciate it, PopeBeanie….I just rhyme what the evidence taught.
Gift of the gab, not the gift of God……
Critical thinking’s my creed, skepticism my sport.

PopeBeanie,

You ask a great question about how to get a better health care system.

It will take many steps and the best I can say in one post is that none of it will be accomplished by anyone who thinks demonic attacks in the bed at night are an actual thing (Carson,) or anyone who thinks skull calipers and cyanide bariatric chambers are…[Read more]

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:
Please don’t see my criticism as anti-American. I hope it is seen as pro-Enlightenment. I have no tribal attachment, and I can separate the myth from the machinery.

Oh, oh, you talking to us? I don’t think so, and it makes me suspicious, as does much of your other recent writings of thoughtful quality, that you’re w…[Read more]

Words and thoughts we invent. Words and thoughts of the president. Is he real? Can we know? Just a robot, Joe Blow?

Tea with thee is glee. Tea for free without me. Tee off. Check your balls. Cough! Cough! Easy mister that hurts. He squirts and ejaculates as the bot conflates concepts, confuses dates, misstates facts sprays unhealthy snacks. Even…[Read more]

Thanks Jake, I was mostly thinking about Ireland when I wrote that :-).

Really well said Reg in a departure from lots of other really well said.

The Enlightenment was about freeing thought from authority, be that authority religious, royal, or dogmatic. Now the new authorities are hashtags and outrage algorithms. The problem is not just ideological, it’s epistemic. Both the ‘Lunatic Left and Rancid Right’ have abandoned Enlightenment principles like reason, evidence, and open debate in fa…[Read more]

Jake,

Oh, and the influence of both the Lunatic Left and Rancid Right are growing beyond their respective corners! Again, it’s bad times for supporters of The Enlightenment!

Jake,

Yeah, the train will stay on the tracks, but for what itenerary?

First, there’s Tucker Carlson platforming Antisemitic, Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, Totalitarian Nick Fuentes, then Megyn Kelly plus Kevin Roberts platforming Tucker Carlson all on the Right.

Then there’s Zohran Mamdani and Bernie Sanders and The Squad and all their fellow…[Read more]

Garden of Earthly Delights.

You might think the ideals of America would be sacrosanct with the young and educated. Alas a smack what they aint got they lack. Globalize the intifada! Free Palestine.

But hey Dems did ok and Trump’s support was not a hamburger helper. So maybe the train will stay on the tracks.

The idea of America; self-determination, free inquiry, equality before the law, is extraordinary. The execution of it has always been messy, compromised, and full of contradictions. Please don’t see my criticism as anti-American. I hope it is seen as pro-Enlightenment. I have no tribal attachment, and I can separate the myth from the machinery. T…[Read more]

@Reg- Yes, the doctor and priest are dual symbols of institutional authority. It’s strong imagery, but it blurs historical and factual accuracy. Not every State or Nation uses both so it is not a “long-standing custom”. Your symbolism is compelling on the first read but you are rather weak on empirical accuracy.

The doctor’s presence might be leg…[Read more]

Wow, thanks Reg. Glad I finally got to reading this.

I mentioned before that I’m incompetent in topics of history. I often even fail at accurately recalling the history of myself.

High school pre-college tests ranked me at 99th percentile in science, 95th percentile in math, 35th percentile in humanities and history, and others I’ve forgotten.…[Read more]

Thanks Enco. I am very experienced in spotting the narrow-minded and dangerous idiots who get frustrated and angry when finding themselves incapable of responding rationally to facts. I have manned Atheist Ireland tables around the country over the years and encountered all types of weirdos and religious bigots. I usually take a Socratic approach…[Read more]

Reg,

An excellent history lesson on real occupied lands as well as the history of Israel’s 77 years of dealing with a hostile armored Welcome Wagon…but do be careful dealing with random street people of unknown intentions, especially masked people wearing the trademark insignia clothing of global intifada with matching flags.

Keep all involved…[Read more]