Open Science Thread

post from Daily Kos on 17 May 2008 07:13:18 AM. © Daily Kos

Arguments by authority are one of the most common rhetorical arrows plucked from the quiver of logical fallacies. They're particularly effective among authoritarian groups. For years Einstein's opinion on supernatural phenomena has been used and misused and outright fabricated to prop up various metaphysical claims. A new letter reportedly written by the world's most famous scientist was recently found and auctioned off in which Einstein wrote in part:

TeleUK -- The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this.

Arrgh, religion! Nothing get's me heav'n heathen masses on the Great and Powerful Orange Satan comment'n like religion-n-science. Well, Einstein was a great physicist. But he has religious opinions just like anyone else, and his judgment on other matters, say for example his choice in hairstylists, was not always impressive. So I'm not clear and never have been on why someone would form their own beliefs, pro or con, based on what Einstein thought about God or Shiva or Peter Griffin's Ghost That Never Lies.

I link to PZ so I won't have to link directly to the interview, in which Ben Stein whines that evolution doesn't explain gravity and this therefore, means, something bad ... about evolution ...? Yeah, we can't figure it out either.

I'll be discussing Carl Zimmer's new book Microcosm: E. coli and the New Science of Life tomorrow on Sunday Kos. In the meantime, feel free to tell us your favorite E. coli related tale.

Speaking of Einstein, logical fallacies, and religion, this just in: The Vatican now says "Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God" ... More ...