They say you should never judge a book by its cover. I say, never judge a book by its title. This is what the title read
What we believe but cannot prove.
Today’s leading thinkers on science in the age of certainty
A quick browse through the pages indicated that it had opinions of people of the likes of Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker. Dawkins actually believes in something which cannot be proved!!!! Will wonders never cease!!! That made me pick up the book. It definitely did not live up to its promise. Each person had their own pet theories which were either un-provable or unproved. Some made it so obtuse that it was very hard to understand what they were getting at. Nevertheless there were some interesting snippets that I want to share with you.
Let me begin with what Dawkins believes. “All over the universe, wherever life exists it would have evolved through a process similar to natural selection.” Surely, I expected better from you, Mr.Dawkins. I expected something in the lines of what Maria Spiropulu says, “I believe nothing to be true if it cannot be proved”
Susan Blackmore says something very paradoxical, “It is possible to live happily and morally without believing in free will”. I never thought even free will was a matter of belief.
This one was really profound and closer to home for me. “I can’t prove it, but I am pretty sure that people gain a selective advantage from believing in things they can’t prove”, says Randolph M.Nesse a professor of psychiatry from the University of Michigan. If there is one theory that I would love to follow-up and know more about, it is this. He gives some interesting examples of why he feels so from his observations of psychiatric patients. Surely worth pondering.
Another Psychologist, David Buss says, “I believe in true love” :-) Don’t we all!.
A startling revelation from, Donald D.Hoffman, a professor in Cognitive Science. Sounded so much like Vedanta to me. “I believe that consciousness and its contents are all that exists. Spacetime, matter and fields never were the fundamental denizens of the universe but have been among the humbler contents of consciousness, dependent on it for their very being”
There are some purely scientific beliefs too, like Ray Kurzweil who believes that we will find ways to circumvent the speed of light as a limit on the communication of information and Freeman Dyson, a professor emeritus of physics in Princeton who says, “it never happens that the reverse of the power of two is a power of five” although you cannot come up with a mathematical proof.
Let me end it with two absolutely contradictory beliefs
Daniel C Dennet, the director of the center of cognitive studies in Tufts university who believes the “acquiring human language is a necessary precondition to consciousness, in the strong sense of there being a subject, an I” and Alen Anderson, the ex-editor-in-chief of New Scientist believes that “even cockroaches are conscious”
If you want to know the unproved beliefs of other great thinkers like Jared Diamond, Ian McEwan, John Horgan, Sir Martin Rees read the book.
[...] KMH wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptThey say you should never judge a book by its cover. I say, never judge a book by its title. This is what the title read What we believe but cannot prove. Today’s leading thinkers on science in the age of certainty A quick browse through the pages indicated that it had opinions of people of the likes of Richard Dawkins and Steven Pinker. Dawkins actually believes in something which cannot be proved!!!! Will wonders never cease!!! That made me pick up the book. It definitely did not live up to its promise. Each person had their own pet theories which were either un-provable or unproved. Some made it so obtuse that it was very hard to understand what they were getting at. Nevertheless there were some interesting snippets that I want to share with you. Let me begin with what Dawkins believes. “All over the universe, wherever life exists it would have evolved […] [...]
It sounds to be a thought provoking book. Richard Dawkins in his The God Delusion has attacked organized religion mercilessly. Likewise Sam Harris (The End of Faith) and Christopher Hitchens in his God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything have forcefully argued for atheism. Belief is a very personal thing. Even most scientists working at the cutting edge of science harbor religious belief. We in India have perfected the art of believing in religion and science equally without any outward contradiction. In a way, Hinduism, being not an organized religion, helps us in achieving that effortlessly, I guess.
Thanks Krishnan. I found God Delusion absolutely abravsive and preachy. I just could not complete. I am great fan of Dawkins writings. Is it the same man who wrote Selfish Gene who wrote God Delusion!!!
I agree with you that Indians have perfected the art of being scientific and religious at the same time. I for one, find no contradition in being a science lover and religious person.
Are you KT of my team, by any chance?
Seems like a very interesting book Archana. “Belief” is what moves the world. All of us have beliefs that are not always provable.
Good to hear the beliefs of so many psychologist/scientists.
Thank you Saraswathi. What happened to your blog. When I try to access it, it says your blog is deleted?
Interesting post. I find it difficult to believe Dawkins must have said what he said. It may have been taken out of context?
Thanks Sukumar. Why do you think Dawkins would not have said it. He pretty much re-interates his faith in Darwin. He says, not only on this earth, but anywhere in the universe life could have evolved only by this process.
No I am not KT.
Thanks Krishnan, for visiting and commenting.
It seems to me that, life evolving in the same manner everywhere is a stretch regardless of faith in Darwin which I have aplenty as well.
“It is possible to live happily and morally without believing in free will”.
I like the above lines. Happiness and free will are not inter-related, which i feel. For example, a mother sacrifices for the sake of her children, and yet find happiness.
i feel, in Hinduism, there is more of realisation, than belief. Belief, is to accept without questioning, whereas realisation is possible only after questioning.
@Archana:
Yes Archana, I deleted my blog! It was a big and tough decision but then I wanted a break from the virtual world. I felt I was missing out on reality by being addicted to the net, blogs ,mails and other stuff.
So wanted to take “sanyas” from virtual world for sometime. Probably i will be back once I am refreshed but that may not be sometime soon:)
But I would definitely take time to visit your blog and comment:)
Sukumar – Thank you.
Sethil – Thanks a lot
Saraswathi – I am really saddened by your decision. Why did you have to delete it, you could have just kept it dorment. I will really miss your blog.
It seems to be an interesting book for discussion. I feel our lifetime will not be sufficient to solve this riddle. But, there is joy in seeking truth,solving the riddle.
I would like to add an important point here. Many religious organisations promise to help people who seek truth. In the process, they are exploited in all aspects,say, economically, emotionally……
Thanks Vimala. You are right, there are many people who exploit gullible and innocent people. So, even genuine people are suspected.
@Archana: I understand Archana. But there are some things I thought I should sort out in my life. I could have had the blog dormant. Hmmm…but I felt the best thing for me would be to delete old things and start afresh:)
Don’t worry archana, I will be back soon to my blogging world. I don’t think I can stay away from it for too long:)