Steven Pinker and Rebecca Goldstein - Reason, Fiction and Faith

Philosophical novelist Rebecca Goldstein and cognitive theorist Steven Pinker in conversation on literature, science and religion.

[EmperorsNewWardrobe]

I’m all for privacy rights, but in the case of these two and the intellectual growth they provoke in their listeners, I think it would unethical NOT to publicly broadcast their home dinner table conversations

[MrAnthonyVance]

Rebecca's book sounds like one I'd like to read. She and Steve make a fine couple in many ways.Their intellectual bond is appealing to me. And i do believe that given their DNA superiority and their penchant for academics and dialectics their children would necessarily be prodigies . Perhaps in an erstwhile life both were in fact the parents of Plato.

[writersblock]

Thank you for posting this, theRSAorg.

[geokaplan]

I would argue precisely the opposite, Pascal. Through art we can enter and explore metaphors and representations and arguments depicting good/bad. Through art -- writing, drama, even the "inarticulate" (meaning linguistically mute) arts of painting and music -- we have in fact a unique access to ethics and reason and our relationships with them. As Ellie, a scientist, notes in "Contact" when seeing a mind-bending, cosmic sight: "They should have sent a poet."

[gardeniabee]

I had been under the incorrect impression that atheists also do not accept or believe in the spiritual nature of humankind. It was good to hear both of these intellectuals affirm spirituality. So, really, those of us who practice meditation and prayer are really not so far apart from atheists. It seems that our concepts or definitions of God do vary greatly; definitions are where we could focus our discussions in the future. For example, I define God more like ancient sages: Suchness.

[malamati]

I like Rebecca's hair, and I like Dr. Pinker's hair, too. They were both having "good hair days!" I prefer to think of Rebecca as a novelist who has an amateur interest in philosophy, rather than a philosopher who does novels. For the latter, I think of Iris Murdoch, Mary Wollstonecraft.

[geokaplan]

I understand, Pascal, and wasn't disagreeing with what you wrote -- just putting in a good word for the arts. Each step in our philosophical evoution as a species raises new points of argument, which is as it should be. Thus I gently disagree with atheistkyo, who says "fiction is useless in theory." On the contrary, it is vitally and distinctly human. It is a measure and expression of intellect and emotion, inaccessible through any other venue. The power of story. Take care, folks.

[funknotik]

This was interesting. Also He did as we intellectuals put it "hit that."

[haozi]

I think her interpretation of Plato is quite controversial. 

[Apontas]

@g0d0fw4retje he's an evolutionary linguistic, he sees it as "process" and as so, adheres to the concept of not being "instinct", as processes are cognitive and cognitive differs from instinct... Myself consider communication an instinct, linguistic and written language tough it are not, as they are acquired, non-verbal language is instinctive... This is what I think...

[Whatistobe]

Strange that Plato would be associated with repugnance to literary arts... He didn't write prose himself, preferring "dialogues" that look more like stories or play scripts than philosophy

[CastleAnthraxx]

If ever there was a comment that deserved negative votes, yours is it.

Seems to me as if your academic interests are limited to a very small group of obvious characters (Harris, Dawkins, etc) who are popular on Youtube. Try reading and studying a little more widely.

[frogman]

@AndreaZ64
Hollow intellectualism? This woman is more qualified to speak on these issues than you will ever be. If you know about Harris, Dawkins, and Dennett, I'm sure your search for knowledge is over. They are obviously right and everyone else is wrong.

[ventura]

@writersblock26 not like FORA that charges

[slyjokerg]

"It isn't just religious people who are irrational" is a silly false equivalency. Behaving unreasonably regarding a "love" relationship with another person is not remotely the same as believing an invisible man in the sky created the universe and watches/control everything that happens, sends you to heaven, or hell... etc...

[gdfwretje]

Hmm, the things Pinker wrote in his books don't seem quite right to me... How is the language an instinct anyway, it simply doesn't fit. No this doesn't work for me at all.

[raymonddooley]

She is very pretty. I would not mind being married to her but I would disagree with nearly very word she would utter. Still it could be worth it.

[oneki]

@fabs038 not that it matters to me really :)) I would think intellectuals are more inclined to be open to the wonder medicine can do:)) don't all profane on my ass