Andy Ross’s Book

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Bradlaugh

I’m a keen reader of Andy Ross’s blog.   (And he’s a something reader of my stuff — at any rate, he re-posted, with intelligent comments, my ruminations on the “Science of Consciousness” conference last spring.) Andy’s a philosopher — he has four degrees in the subject, three from Oxford — and often writes about religion from a cognitive-science and evolutionary perspective. Andy’s a fan of some people I’m a fan of (Doug Hofstadter, Daniel Dennett), but he’s approximately 100,0000 times smarter and better-read than I am. I would love to get him and our Mr. Hume in a room together.

Now apparently Andy’s written a book. At any rate, he’s linking to a substantial manuscript with his name on it, title Godblogs: On Religion from Sam Harris to Bede Griffiths. Worth a look.

Andy’s regular blog is here.

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6 Responses to Andy Ross’s Book

  1. ◄Dave► says:
    February 5, 2009 at 7:55 am

    Thanks for the links. I look forward to reading his manuscript. Already in the introduction he has struck a chord with me:

    Even the most patient readers will sometimes baulk at my overly exuberant verbosity and profusion of esoteric references to highly techical literature. Yet this is all part of the plan. Most public forums of my acquaintance for the posting of blog messages dissolve all too readily into dismaying illiteracy and emotionalism. In such circumstances, the probability of being able to pursue a challenging and rigorous argument to a successful conclusion is near zero. By striding forth boldly with my own language and references, I winnowed my interlocuters down to a hard core of relatively serious thinkers who reflected quite well my intended readership for this tome.

    He is right, of course, and I have employed a similar strategy to attract serious thinkers and dissuade mindless trolls to my own fora. 🙂 ◄Dave►

  2. Caledonian says:
    February 5, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Barack Obama has chosen Rick Warren to deliver his inaugural invocation. If we must have an officiating priest, let it be some dignified old hypocrite and not a tree-shaking huckster and publicity seeker who believes that millions of his fellow citizens are hell-bound because they do not meet his own low and vulgar standards. –Christopher Hitchens, Slate

    AR: Cool it, Chris. Don’t be such a party pooper. At least Rick has some fire in his belly.

    I approve.

    I would be interested in reading more of Mr. (Dr.?) Ross’s work.

  3. Grant Canyon says:
    February 5, 2009 at 12:21 pm

    “I approve.”

    Nah, Hitch is right. Warren is a boob for this boob age.

  4. Caledonian says:
    February 6, 2009 at 9:10 am

    He certainly is. But Hitchens’s objection is absurd.

  5. Grant Canyon says:
    February 6, 2009 at 9:46 am

    “But Hitchens’s objection is absurd.”

    I don’t think so. The way I read his comment, what he is saying is that if we are forced to go through this sham of “ceremonial deism” and pretend it doesn’t make a mockery of the First Amendment, the least we could do is get “some dignified old hypocrite” up there who understands that this is all supposed to be farce.

  6. Caledonian says:
    February 9, 2009 at 8:36 am

    If we could do that, there would be no reason to do any of it.

    Given that there are enough sincerely-deluded people to make it politically necessary, it’s inevitable that actual believers are going to be the ones who give the blessings etc.

    And objecting to that particular belief is ridiculous. It’s rather a form of the ‘diversity’ argument, in which any non-acceptance of a sanctified group is to be condemned.

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