tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627322010786735293.post2983552173181409862..comments2023-10-01T09:35:35.894+02:00Comments on Antipodes: Warming my toes with Darwin & DawkinsWilliam Skyvingtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052367756561555096noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627322010786735293.post-8138970854135192852009-10-22T23:46:17.296+02:002009-10-22T23:46:17.296+02:00You've used beautifully simple words to expres...You've used beautifully simple words to express the joy of reading the fine prose of Richard Dawkins: <i><b>It makes my heart sing.</b></i> I cannot imagine a better statement to express my own reactions. In New Testament Greek, an evangelist was literally a bringer of good news. Ever since my first contact with a book by Dawkins (<i>The Blind Watchmaker</i>), I see him in that role, as an author whose good news is synonymous with the scientific truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He has always revealed an uncanny skill at explaining highly complex concepts... such as epigenesis, for example. He's a creator of several fabulous ideas: the notion of the so-called "selfish gene", then the "extended phenotype" concept, and even the fuzzy but exciting phenomenon of memes (which is fast becoming a household word). Although most people would designate Dawkins as a zoologist, maybe a biologist or simply a scientist with a mastery of several fields, I would describe him as the planet's greatest philosopher. In his philosophy, Dawkins manipulates elements from the real world, whereas most professional philosophers tend simply to play with words.William Skyvingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10052367756561555096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8627322010786735293.post-82455593547636543592009-10-22T21:07:27.004+02:002009-10-22T21:07:27.004+02:00Well...you have been busy! I am reading 'The G...Well...you have been busy! I am reading 'The Greatest Show on Earth' at the moment and - as with all Dawkin's books - it makes my heart sing.<br /><br />Wendy Wright is unfortunately in a position of significant influence in the USA. Doubly unfortunately - she is a completely mad bible bashing tub thumping creationist and is one of those nutters trying to get it taught in schools.Badgerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11283813317560446754noreply@blogger.com