Conversations with Great Minds with Prof. Richard Dawkins, Pt 1

[superlou2012]

Richard Dawkins is my god

[RascoHeldall]

@9765677)%-}#-gfty (or whatever it is)

If Dawkins' opinions seem well rehearsed it is only because prats like you continue to cling to your babyish fairy stories. It's not HIS fault there is still so much pathetic wilful ignorance in our society.

[jloo222]

whats wrong with this guys eyes?

[khajiit92]

it's great that the interviewer did some research (or just knew this stuff beforehand), but it seems that a lot of this interview is pretty much:

interviewer: so this, that and the other is the case?

dawkins: yep

repeat

repeat

repeat

[youthank8]

983215ljhlkadbspig6y

Two things only: Firstly, STFU. Lastly, GTFO.

[983215ljhlkadbspig6y]

Dawkins is just a chunky, less articulated regurgitation of Darwin and Nietzsche. He says humans evolved from apes, and says that God is dead... as if it has never been said before; and people listen to him intently as if he's saying something new. I don't know, maybe they like his personality, but as for his ideas: They're not new, and they have no real chance of evolving our collective intellect any further. He's an old hat that Darwin or Nietzsche would have seldom worn centuries ago.

[AAgetTanked]

@983215ljhlkadbspig6y "his opinions are not that new" ------yet you base your life on a 2000 year old book, righto bro. nice theory.

[983215ljhlkadbspig6y]

@AAgetTanked I never said once that I am a Christian. I don't base my life on the Bible-- even though I went to bible school at church when I was really young (and I'm glad I did, because the literary quality of it is inspirational). I saw through it quickly though. I'm reading the Qur'an now, for more literary inspiration... among scores of other old, but non-religious works. I like writing songs and stories with allusions to symbols and metaphors that everyone is familiar with.

[Jordog05]

@983215ljhlkadbspig6y Somewhat true, but I think his popularity is more due to the way in which he goes about explaining, arguing and debating fact and theory.

It's one thing to have someone put forth an idea, another to see it articulated and debated in modern society.

His ideas might not be altogether "new", but I think it's important to have a person perpetuating and expanding upon ideas. The fact he is trying to get others to think critically does much to evolve our collective intellect.

[90JFB]

I love how at the beginning the reporter is just reading Dawkins' Wikipedia page hahah

[runningchance]

This video sucks. Not once did he mention that Alien intervention was the cause of monkies becoming man. Dawkins has no credibility, he is a true hater of life and a fool. There is no monkies evolving now so why did they stop? They stopped evolving because the Aliens stopped conducting the genetic experiments. Dawkins is a cock sucker for the Universities controlled by the government.

[ThreeLions89]

@runningchance and you`re the inbred uneducated idiot.

[gxcpompon]

that's a bit surprising when he says that he didn't even met any libertarian, yet he seems to be a friend of Penn Jillette, a very outspoken libertarian

[NiHuWi]

@gxcpompon He's talking about when he first published the Selfish Gene, which was quite a while ago. I doubt he knew Penn at the time he first published it.

[MarcusLeMuso]

Wow!! Who was that lovely interviewer? Not only was he respectful, he spoke so eloquently (especially for an American) and really knew what he was talking about.

[evolvOwns]

Wow its a breath of fresh air to finally see a substantial, non-superficial conversation between two brilliant minds, instead of the usual creationists trying to get an answer on whether god exists.

[apacheslim]

Oh yeah and dont forget..... the world is 10,000 years old and there werent any dinosaurs.

[AwakeIsland]

hows that for an intro! now THATS quality journalism. Nice one RT for not sinking so low as to call him "Richard Dawkins the Athiest", such disrespect by other media outlets.

[westside1love]

Awesome reporter! Good work.

[SkullOfYorick]

Thank 'God', an intelligent interview using difficult words and concepts. I must be in the twilight zone.

[Cornwall1888]

On this news channel in the graphics it says Dawkins is an author an evolutionary biologist.

On FOX news it intruduces him as an atheist and shows pictures of Hilter and Stalin lol.

[EclecticSceptic]

Holy shit, a journalist asking Richard about his scientific views rather than shouting 'atheist!' at him.

[TheMogulmonster]

This is the first one I've seen where he hasn't been introduced as: ' THE ATHEIST AAAAGH DEVIL WORSHIPER AAAAGH HE'S WRITTEN BLASPHEMOUS BOOKS AAAAGHRGH - Richard Dawkins'. It's actually nice to see an interviewer with half a brain, rather than the usual bible bashing dolts one gets on the American channels like Fox News

[ImaginedWriter]

The best interview of Dawkins I've seen where the interviewer is from a major network, is well informed about Dawkins' career and has interesting as well as penetrating questions to ask on topics outside of religion.

Well done RT on hiring this interviewer.

[OxbowisaMstie]

@ImaginedWriter Thom is a talk show host professionally and also has a real understanding of science and Dawkin's body of work. He also interviewed him on his radio show.

[Feldegast92]

I'm starting to like RT more and more!

[dhampir1000]

evolution is a fact ,you can see it everywhere around you ,GOD exists only in psychopatic ,sick brains

[everybodysinshowbiz]

is that interviewer alright?

[boenrobot]

It's nice to see Dawkins being interviewed about biological questions instead of theological ones for a change.

[dopejoel]

@boenrobot AMEN

[George4943]

He should have called it "The Cooperative Gene." They exhibit their selfishness by working well with the other genes because in doing to they serve their selfish purpose of (an exact copy) being in the next generation. The common purpose of having an exact copy (which Dawkins describes as "selfish") is only served by the group of genes in a genome acting in concert.

[djcarrasco1987]

This is a great video. Finally a reporter who has taken the time to look into the information for himself before coming on air and asking callow questions.

[Zitozu]

@djcarrasco1987 Also asking and responding with respect. That is a quality lacked by most people that has interviewed him.

[AntiChrista4WPeace]

whahahahaaa....Richard Dawkins.

Darwin saw in an ape, Marilyn Monroe.

[novazee]

The host is an idiot. He doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. At least he could have read the book before he interview Richard Dawkins. It's painfully awkward to watch.

[shinagito]

@novazee You beat me to it! I thought it was just me. Yes I find it incredibly wasted that such time is used on Q&A session that doesn't seem to get anywhere.

[edktpo]

@shinagito how can you say it dosn't get anywhere? they talk about so manythings that should help you to form a better understanding of biology. you must have less connections in you brain then most and be unable to understand the big words... but thats ok its not your fault its evolutions hahahaha

[shinagito]

@edktpo Son, I appreciate your comment but it was very preposterous of you to even say that. If you are very fond of your comment, I suggest you either learn a) good manners and b) respect first. Which I think you are lacking understanding of. I'm not sure you're really ready for BIOLOGY for that matter. As a matter of fact, I listen to Dawkins interviews all over YouTube but I find this one lacked substance.

[dujl]

@shinagito It's educational for a lot of people, not pointless.

[ButterflyChristie]

This is a great interview! He asked him the perfect questions that I love seeing Richard Dawkins explain!

[MyBrotherThelonious]

I'm a huge fan of prof. Dawkins, but why is he always looking so angry?

[luciferAir]

@MyBrotherThelonious that is the sign of wisdom.

[AntiChrista4WPeace]

@MyBrotherThelonious Because...whahahahaaa....Richa­rd Dawkins.

Darwin saw in an ape, Marilyn Monroe. FB-Sun AkaAishaklein.

[PlanetEarthAwakens01]

@MyBrotherThelonious because he has no spirituality lol.....

[RationalConclusion]

There are some who genuinly misundedstand The Selfish Gene and there are some who purposely misrepresent it because they have a political or religious agenda.

[freiheitsalv]

@RationalConclusion agreed

[cruelbusiness1984]

Dawkins looks unhappy or unwell here

[trevjack77]

@ wateryskipper "as an aquarian I am in love with reason"?? lmao. Juxtapositional sentence. Love it. ha ha haha.... (I know you are not intending to be funny....but sheesh, there is nothing reasonable nor rational about Starsigns!!) *still chuckling*

[niginit]

People are stupid. They read by title and think they are learned on everything.

'The selfish gene' = "Oh, Gee, durp. Genes are selfish>we are selfish>selfishness is the way of the universe>selfishness is the light and the way!

So stupid.

[TripleSpeak]

It's funny to watch 2 old white boys w/sticks up their asses. As usual, Thom makes a fool of himself because he so obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. Instead of letting Dawkins talk, he just stutters on, making his stupidity ever more obvious. Dawkins makes an ass of himself just by existing & being such a stuck-up prig. Like so many that average people like thom think are "great," Dawkins merely repeats well-learned info. He's a tired, mediocre mind.

[CookingSpree]

@TripleSpeak Why do you see him as stuck-up? And a prig? Really? And why do you point out that he is old and white?

[AntiChrista4WPeace]

@CookingSpree

whahahahaaa....Richard Dawkins.

"Darwin saw in an ape, Marilyn Monroe."

[radscorpion8]

@TripleSpeak Wow, that's possibly the most negative way of looking at this possible. All I saw was Thom earnestly asking questions to learn more about evolution, while Dawkins gave him the information in clear, understandable terms. You must be seriously biased against those two...this is really a perfectly normal interview, if a bit scientific (and sure Thom stutters a bit)

[radscorpion8]

@TripleSpeak Wow, that's possibly the most negative way of looking at this possible. All I saw was Thom earnestly asking questions to learn more about evolution, while Dawkins gave him the information in clear, understandable terms. You must be seriously biased against those two...this is really a perfectly normal interview, if a bit scientific (and sure Thom stutters a bit)

[TripleSpeak]

It's funny to watch 2 old white boys w/sticks up their asses. As usual, Thom makes a fool of himself because he so obviously doesn't know what he's talking about. Instead of letting Dawkins talk, he just stutters on, making his stupidity ever more obvious. Dawkins makes an ass of himself just by existing & being such a stuck-up prig. Like so many that average people like thom think are "great," Dawkins merely repeats well-learned info. He's a tired, mediocre mind.

[45means45]

@TripleSpeak What race are you.

[TheAbyrwalg]

The host should have read the book before asking the very question discussed in depth there.

[TheAbyrwalg]

The host should have read the fucking book before asking the very question discussed in depth there.

[PaulolHensiano]

Ah yes, undeniable truth. That a man lived in a big fish for several days, that God knocked up a teenager who then gave birth to... God, that a talking snake told a woman made from her partners rib to eat an apple from a magic tree, etc etc... absolutely undeniable.

[Strutinan]

@PaulolHensiano NICE poe dude...unfortunately bible-thumpers tend to be immune to sarcasm (and anything ELSE that requires introspection), otherwise they would nor be god-heads!

[PaulolHensiano]

@Strutinan Yeah, they tend to be immune to reality in general.

[PlanetEarthAwakens01]

@PaulolHensiano I think it's allegorical if anything oh superior one!

[sumstufflol]

@PaulolHensiano

I'm not even a Christian, but come on man. Have you never heard of metaphor?

[PaulolHensiano]

@sumstufflol I sure have heard of metaphor, but this book is meant to be the undeniable word of God. He never says in the book that anything he said is metaphorical, in fact it appears to say he speaks the truth. So for us to essentially say "Don't mind him, he says things he doesn't really mean" makes God sound like a senile old man.

[sumstufflol]

@PaulolHensiano

I've never seen an author point out the fact that he's using metaphor. I agree with you that the specific stories you pointed out are ridiculous if interpreted from a literal standpoint, but I personally believe that any meaning the Bible holds is derived from symbols and metaphors that the stories are representative of.

[PaulolHensiano]

@sumstufflol Any meaning derived from the bible is symbolic? I completely agree with you. But if thats the case, why have people been routinely ostracized, tortured and killed down through the ages because of a symbolic story? Why the insane levels of fighting, genital mutilation, murders etc. in so many countries because of a metaphorical 2000 year old story? It may be symbolic to you and me, but the real danger is the hundreds of millions of people that take it deadly seriously.

[sumstufflol]

@PaulolHensiano

Well, I have no disagreements with you there. It just seemed like you were belittling the religion itself as opposed to the way that some have perceived it.

[STEPHENWRAYSFORD33]

@PaulolHensiano small correction, a whale is a mammal not a fish,

[PaulolHensiano]

@STEPHENWRAYSFORD33 True, but does the story not say "big fish" as opposed to "whale", which was then wrongly interpreted as whale? That was my understanding anyway, but maybe I'm wrong.

[capucchan8]

come on Thomm you keep interviewing supposedly great minds but you have not interviewed David Icke or Jordan Maxwell, snicker haha

[LiberaLib]

@RealRonPaul "We are getting our country back!" no, you're not. the days of this being a white-dominated nation of religious fanatics are over.

[Csillaghamu]

@RealRonPaul

You are a dumb fucking troll. How do I know that? You are dumb even for a ron paul supporter. Back to your cave, amateur.

[LouisGodena]

This is excruciating. Hartmann has a better grasp, it seems, of biological issues, but his fumbling delivery and suspended quotations make it difficult to follow. The conversation does not flow easily. Always delightful, though, to hear Dawkins, who is quite gracious, as a rule, with interviewers.

[cruiscinlan]

The Selfish Gene was published 30 years ago - has he nothing new to say?

[cruiscinlan]

Dawkins states that God almost certainly does not exist, yet he has no problem belittling the beliefs of those who feel he does exist. He has a problem with Christianity and this motivates him to attack God. interesting lack of logic, which makes it hard for me to credit him with being a great mind. he should stick to his subject matter, biology, and leave the philosophy to folk who are willing to discuss things rather than judge them as unworthy of thought/a waste of time

[unclexbob]

@cruiscinlan I hope you are equally demanding respect for people that believe in santa claus and tooth fairies. 

[cruelbusiness1984]

@unclexbob and the pagans, the polytheists, the hindus, and the wiccans :)

[unclexbob]

@cruelbusiness1984 I'm assuming your smiley is recognizing the absurdity I was pointing out? Or are you doubling down on your original argument?

[1980albatros]

@cruiscinlan That's cus you obviously have a bias towards him. He is undoubtedly one of the greatest minds out there to have ever spoken on behalf of logic and reason. Get your shit straight foo.

[RedGunBullets]

OMG richard dawkins!! AWESOME! 

[meadowsirl]

always love digs at libertarians

[wateryskipper]

He's arrogant as hell i'm an agnostic and an acupuncturist. He's limited in his views

[flake452]

@wateryskipper He is arrogant? In what his treatment of women? His views on Gravity? Or because he is critical of religion as a scientist?

[wateryskipper]

@flake452 So this is why I bang on about Science: because I feel it has a collective power over people’s minds that is not healthy, that is a form of brainwashing (just like Christianity was in the Middle Ages) – the Enlightenment idea that everything needs to be reduced to reason, and reason in the particularly narrow, lab-rat form that science takes for truth. Don't get me wrong - as an Aquarian I am in love with reason. But it has its limits.

[flake452]

@wateryskipper Well you talk of science as if it is a person, it is a method of understanding. You cannot be brainwashed by reality.

[wateryskipper]

@flake452 it is a study but depending on the people that perform their hypothesis, it has its biases

[flake452]

@wateryskipper Well biased studies are unscientific.

[wateryskipper]

@flake452 love is unscientific too

[flake452]

@wateryskipper Nope, its just a very complicated scientific processes.

[wateryskipper]

@flake452 ok

[Trumagmur]

@wateryskipper Yes, science is done by humans so it does have slight errors, but the whole idea behind science is that it is set up to minimize these errors. That's why science has had the success that it has had. Because of the scientific method, science has smaller errors by far than any other method that humans have ever invented. If you have a better system then present it to us, but don't attack people who are doing the best that they can to understand the real world.

[wateryskipper]

@Trumagmur i have books by him and saw videos on him...i am not attacking him but don't like his work. i'm fine with this.

[RedTory59]

@wateryskipper Perhaps if you had one-hundredth of his intelligence, you'd be "arrogant" too. You might then also have the good sense not to believe in quack medicine like acupuncture.

[wateryskipper]

@RedTory59 what you assume of me does not take anything away from me. from the point of western science, there are limitations and arrogance limits it further...And it is funny that you do not even know me to make any assumptions. maybe you fall into this category i don't know. and it is not even important

[RedTory59]

@wateryskipper Plenty can be inferred from your comments with having to endure the likely displeasure of "knowing" you.

[wateryskipper]

@RedTory59 LOL ok... you seem to attack people that differ in your opinions. Are you looking at yourself in the mirror? RIght now I have a few minutes to waste time. I have to go back to work. Have a great day.

[wateryskipper]

@RedTory59 your reflection is not too pleasing.

[wateryskipper]

@RedTory59 and more is said by the purity of Dawkin's arrogance. yuck

[Csillaghamu]

@wateryskipper

Dawkins' what? You can't fucking possibly think Dawkins is arrogant. Jesus fucking christ. I'm so glad we have rocket scientists like you, who haven't read a book by RD, who haven't heard him talk, who have no idea about the man, but judge him anyways.

[wateryskipper]

@Csillaghamu check dawkins out on this /Z-FaXD_igv4 . He is a pompous a*^hole. he might have credentials but as far as an open mind such as the string theory that covers information we cannot fanthom, there is little respect I have of him. also insulting me will not open up any new territory. i have his periodicals and books, "the greatest show on earth," and others. but anyone that dictates findings and teaches material as truth, i have to close up to.