This is how I want to remember Hitch

Christopher Hitchens has died and the world has lost one of the greatesat speakers in the debates for rationality and human rights. May the spirit of his words endure...

This, I think, is Hitch at his best Debating free speech laws at the University of Toronto in 2006. The motion is: 'Be It Resolved: Freedom of Speech Includes the Freedom to Hate.'



"Stay cool" Grow into these trousers... >>

Be excellent to each other

A short essay on morals from AtheistStuff.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Philosophy [8:18]


Party on, dudes!
----------------------------
Via Common Sense Atheism. Grow into these trousers... >>

Next on my reading list

A welcome sight on the doormat today was a freshly minted copy of Albion Dreaming: A Popular History of LSD in Britain by my long-time friend Andy Roberts - (I'll call him Agg to avoid confusion).



Agg and I were part of the same clan as we emerged into consciousness through our teens. Looking back it was one hell of a roller coaster ride.

But we made it and as the years passed we both continued to probe the nether regions of reality, though in utterly different ways:
Agg through his sceptical interest in folklore, mythology, UFOs and other cultural phenomenon, and his deep understanding of their philosophical entanglement.
Myself with trying to work out how the hell algae make bile pigments and use them for photosynthesis.

I know Agg's writing style, and I know it's far better than his piano playing, so I'm looking forward to a good, well researched read. Grow into these trousers... >>

Beyond Belief 2008

The videos from Beyond Belief 2008 are beginning to come online.

If you haven't come across this conference before you may be in for a real treat. It's a meeting of deep thinking people discussing science, philosophy, culture, reality...

Beyond Belief: Candles in the Dark


Where else might you see A.C. Grayling, V.S. Ramachandran, Sam Harris, Pat Churchland and Chris Mooney all at the same venue. With hopefully talks to come from Harry Kroto, Michael Shermer and even Paul Davies, who are all on the long list of participants.

I'm waiting till I have a couple of days of free time, then I'll try to watch as much as possible (or as much as I want) in sequence. I'm a sucker for good conference; it keeps the ol' brain ticking over. However we all miss out on what must have gone on during coffee, lunch or in the bar later on. Hey, I'm still capable of eating and drinking on my own! These videos, a beer and a pizza delivery will do just fine.
----------
If you did miss the previous years, here are the links.
Highly recomended.
Beyond Belief: Science, Reason, Religion & Survival - 2006
Beyond Belief: Enlightenment 2.0 - 2007 Grow into these trousers... >>

Weeing down my trouser leg #8 - Reductio ad absurdum?

Here's an Epicurean delight:

Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

"epicurean." Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 19 Sep. 2008.

Well, there's a beer paid on for anyone who can explain the derivation of the term 'Epicurean delights".

Oh, and by they way, Reductio ad absurdum works like this:

(1) Assume not p
(2) Provide argumentation that derives p from this assumption.
(3) Maintain p on this basis.

(see The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

Discuss. Grow into these trousers... >>