Stop Making Sense

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Two worthwhile pieces from the New York Times:

[1] "Why Won't They Listen," is a review of ‘The Righteous Mind" by Jonathan Haidt, a compelling interdisciplinary study of why and how emotions evolved to trump rational thinking, and how this affects our polities. Van der Waals, Diamond, E. O. Wilson et. al. have already covered the ground, but Haidt ties it together.

Opening graph:

"You’re smart. You’re liberal. You’re well informed. You think conservatives are narrow-minded. You can’t understand why working-class Americans vote Republican. You figure they’re being duped. You’re wrong."

An impartial review by William Saletan (a rarity!) -- go forth and read, and please share your thoughts on the topic.


[2] "Does It Matter Whether God Exists?" by Professor Gary Gutting supports Ranger's recent contention that God just might not save you. (Remember, this blog is published from South Georgia, basically, so one bumps into the topic of salvation and fetus's on billboards on a weekly basis.)

This might not be because God is a trickster or missed you in formation, but because his valuations outstrip your abilities to comprehend them: "God may have to allow us to be deceived to prevent even greater evils." Or maybe, he's not really St. Anselm's ideal, and God is not really the greatest thing you can imagine.

Since most people believe in hopes of avoiding total annihilation, that persistence into oblivion "depends on there being a God who is good enough to desire our salvation and powerful enough to achieve it." Oh, and the fact that you're deemed important enough that the hereafter needs your presence.

[-- politico-military matters coming soon -- editrix.]