"Noam Chomsky Is An Infinitely Better Scientist Than Richard Dawkins, Intellectually & Morally - And An Infinitely Better Atheist" - RWS
"Noam Chomsky is an infinitely better Scientist than Richard Dawkins, intellectually & morally - and an infinitely better Atheist" - RWS
Chomsky puts Science and Mystery in Perspective
http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=25062
Published: February 16, 2011
BY SIMON ROWNEY
During my university days, something strange happened to myself and many of my fellow students. A kind of world weariness set in. Strange indeed for teenagers and twenty somethings. But there it was. For us, the world appeared to hold no surprises and not too much of interest.
Why did nothing surprise us? The answer is that we believed that science either had all the answers, or at least would very shortly. We also thought that human beings were a very predictable species and, finally, we thought religion and culture were pure bio-chemical epiphenomena.
For many of us this first changed on reading Noam Chomsky. As such, I think his significance as a scientist and for me personally, remains, even if his theories prove false. His influence will remain long after his science is gone. Whether or not language is innate and whether there is a Universal Grammar or not; whether or not the mind is modular or even whether or not language has a context-free grammar; it does not matter.
Chomsky remains a great scientist because he brought back the wonder of enquiry and the beauty of mystery.
His first achievement was his realisation that science didn't merely try to predict future events. Chomsky thought science tried to explain events. Any mere catalog of facts wasn't good enough, without explanation it was worthless.
He thus restored some of the excitement of discovery; reminding us that scientific enquiry began with wonder and amazement and resulted in appreciation and even more wonder.
Next, when asked how his linguistic theory would be compatible with Darwinian evolution, Chomsky would reply that he didn't know. He would then go a step further and suggest that the evolution of the cognitive capacity of human beings remains shrouded in mystery. Natural selection is no more plausible an explanation than any other.
Chomsky would say that scientific questions divided into problems and mysteries. Problems were the type of enquiry that involved a very clear and precise question to be answered. A mystery was an enquiry where we cannot even frame our question clearly, when dealing with a mystery we do not even really know what we are looking for.
Thus whereas setting out to cure cancer is trying to pierce through the shroud of mystery, resolving the question to something precise such as trying to develop a vaccine against the HPV virus, is to change something from mystery to mere problem. And modern science deals with problems not mysteries.
Chomsky's political views developed from this attitude because he believes human affairs remain impenetrable to science, they are shrouded in mystery. This does not mean reason cannot be used but the methods of modern science clearly can not.
Whether or not the details are correct, Chomsky taught us that mystery is always present. Even if a science of human affairs did exist, it would not change the fact that beyond the boundary of what we know, wherever that boundary is drawn, there is and always will be mystery.
Even though science develops, it does not reduce the amount of mystery present in the world. It doesn't take us closer to some final goal, a point where all enquiry will cease. Why not? Because the things we don't know are completely mysterious. We cannot count what we cannot distinguish.
There is no doubt Chomsky belief's make him a better scientist. It is liberating to the imagination and reason to permit mystery to exist side by side with understanding. Not being bogged down by the narrow constraints of behaviourism or Darwinism freed Chomsky’s considerable intellectual gifts. This enabled him to progress further than anyone before towards an explanation of human cognition.
Chomsky's attitude is scarcely more than common sense and there's no doubt my interpretation is parochial. But as students we certainly needed reminding that there are many things about which we haven't got a clue.
Simon Rowney is a CathNews reader who blogs from Corrimal, NSW.
_________________________________________
MOD EDIT: DISCUSSION CLOSED BY POPULAR DEMAND.
Replies are closed for this discussion.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Dave Mann on -
What a load of rubbish.
Note that the article comes from the CathNews, Cath as in Catholic.
From the article, "He would then go a step further and suggest that the evolution of the cognitive capacity of human beings remains shrouded in mystery. Natural selection is no more plausible an explanation than any other."
Why not actually quote Chomsky instead of summarize him? "He would then go on" huh? Did Chomsky actually say "Natural selection is no more plausible an explanation than any other." Where, when. This must be taken out of context.
"Chomsky would say that" - But what did he actually say.
"...when dealing with a mystery we do not even really know what we are looking for..." When did he say anything like this?
Chomsky is an Atheist. He is a Libertarian-Socialist, also known as an Anarchist. He despises everything the Roman Catholic Church stands for. It testifies to the intellectual dishonesty of Catholic activists that they would try to make use of his reputation.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Richard W. Symonds on -
David & Adriana, you obviously both have a personal problem with "Catholics" - many people do - but I think your interpretation, of what the writer/article was trying to say, is mistaken.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Reggie on -
I think it is obvious as to why most people should have a problem with Catholicism. But that is neither here nor there.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Dave G on -
I see Richard's unhealthy obsession with Richard Dawkins continues. Dawkins is not mentioned anywhere in the article, but Richard W. just has to denegrate him anyhow. Really Richard, you might want to seek professional help, fixating on someone like this is not healthy.
I also will have to look into the source of these attributions once I get home, but I will not be surprised if it is another case of Lying For Jesus. -
-
Permalink Reply by Richard W. Symonds on
-
David & Adriana, I thought better of both of you. Didn't know you would stoop to such a low level.
And no Adriana, I am not a Catholic Christian - but even if I was - so what ?
-
-
Permalink Reply by Dave G on
-
Seriously Richard, I do think that you should talk to a professional. Your obsession with Dawkins isn't healthy and it may be adversely affecting your health, both physical and mental.
As for the article you linked to, Adriana has demonstrated how it misrepresents Chomsky's views in at least two instances. It is dishonest. -
-
Permalink Reply by Richard W. Symonds on
-
This "misrepresentation" (as you call it) is so infinitely small & harmless compared to the very real, serious & harmful misrepresentation Chomsky receives constantly - and he will discern that very, very quickly if you ask him at CUNY.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Dave G on
-
So it is okay to lie about Chomsky, just so long as other people are telling bigger ones?
-
-
Permalink Reply by Toby Cooper on -
I like a lady who knows how to bludgeon with the facts.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Violet Chartreuse on -
Couldn't have said it better!
-
-
Permalink Reply by Cara Coleen on -
Wow. You're kinda obsessed with this Chomsky guy. Borderline worship. Kinda embody what you accuse Dawkins fans of.
-
-
Permalink Reply by Richard W. Symonds on
-
Cara, you're better than what you've just said, aren't you ?
-
What's new today
Forum
EMPOWERING WOMEN!!!!!!!!
Started by Belle Rose in Welcome to Think Atheist. Last reply by archaeopteryx 4 minutes ago. 110 Replies 0 Likes
Blog Posts
...and now I wait to die.
Posted by Misty: Baytheist Living! on May 23, 2013 at 4:03pm 3 Comments 0 Likes
Events
Services we love
Check out our new mobile/tablet version of Think Atheist! www.ThinkAtheist.com/m
© 2013 Created by Morgan Matthew.
