The Unenlightened States Of America - Sir Harold Kroto @ The Science Network

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The Unenlightened States Of America - Sir Harold Kroto @ The Science Network - Beyond Belief: Enlightenment 2.0

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Sir Harold Kroto, Chairman of the Board of the Vega Science Trust, a UK educational charity that produces science programs for television, in 1996 shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley for the discovery of a new form of carbon, the C60 Buckminsterfullerene. He has received the Royal Society's prestigious Michael Faraday Award, given annually to a scientist who has done the most to further public communication of science, engineering or technology in the United Kingdom.

As you watch the conversation in Beyond Belief: Enlightenment 2.0, it might help to know about one of the sources that was helpful to me in formulating the agenda, assembling the cast of characters, and setting the tone for the meeting. I quoted this passage from Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century by Jonathan Glover (who directs the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King's College, London):

"Now we tend to see the Enlightenment view of human psychology as thin and mechanical, and Enlightenment hopes of social progress through the spread of humanitarianism and the scientific outlook as naïve...One of this book's aims is to replace the thin, mechanical psychology of the Enlightenment with something more complex, something closer to reality...another aim of the book is to defend the Enlightenment hope of a world that is more peaceful and humane, the hope that by understanding more about ourselves we can do something to create a world with less misery. I have qualified optimism that this hope is well founded..."

I say Amen to that. If Enlightenment 1.0 took a thin and mechanical view of human nature and psychology, I think Enlightenment 2.0 can offer a much 'thicker' and cognitively richer account - less naïve and also, perhaps, less hubristic. If there's one thing we've learned - particularly from cognitive neuroscience - it is that we need to have some strategic humility about the hobby horses we are inclined to ride.

Roger Bingham
Director, The Science Network
http://thesciencenetwork.org/

BEYOND BELIEF DVDs are available at:
http://www.beyondbeliefdvd.com/servlet/StoreFront
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[Neeboopsh]

is the guy in the audience david duchovny? :)

[FFreeThinker]

It's Sam Harris. This is tsn, not the Golden Globes. ;)

[suthrnreject]

@NassimHarameinVedas: This sounds too similar to "all faiths lead to jesus'" - delivering a small packet of tolerance for all beliefs within a larger package of intolerance. Some xtians tell us that those of other faiths are still okay as their faith will eventually lead them to the one "true god." And your statement here is different how? As an atheist, I'm not on your presumed plateau, headed for your "godhead." HKers are no less cult members than xtians, muslems, fill in the blank.

[falotnek]

Christians in the US say the Bible is the most scientific book that exists. That says it all.

Go Norway!!

[quidproquo2004]

He came to my university this year and I had the good fortune to speak with him and shake his hand.

[stalkingcat123]

jesus!!!! keep your religion to yourself you have a church/gathering place go there talk about your religion pray to your gods use your designated area's of worship to worship and keep it out of the fucking public. religion should be treated like foul language i don't want my child to hear that garbage

[mdiem]

A talk like this deserves an hour, not ten minutes. Feels rushed.

[tifforo1]

2:47 is dated. David H. Souter was replaced by Sonia Sotomayor (Catholic) in 2009 and John Paul Stevens was replaced by Elena Kagan (Conservative Jew) in 2010. The Supreme Court is now made up of six Catholics and three Jews.

[BlizBob]

@Orangemongoose

"and if I'm Atheist, that means I think there is no God (which there may be)"

I can't possibly be the first person to point this out to you but "atheist" doesn't mean people who think that there is no god.

Atheist means a person who does not believe in a god(s).

The most devout christian, muslim, hindu ect. is exactly as atheist towards Odin as an atheist is toward any god humanity has ever believed.

Only some atheists think that there's no god.

[bartonim]

Man, the religious scam in America is its eternal shame. Maybe the founding fathers were deists, but they would drop their jaws in horror at what is going on America today.

[TheConcolor]

Norway! w000t1!!

[Orangemongoose1]

I don't really have a religion. Because if I'm christian, that would mean that I think there's a God (which there may or may not be) and if I'm Atheist, that means I think there is no God (which there may be)

But, I totally agree with this guy! We should stop focusing so much on religion and focus on our life. If there is a god and a heaven (which I hope there is, but it's unlikely) he would love you anyway.

[gordinidesigns]

Oh yes, I live in North America& I agree with his views.0

[gordinidesigns]

I love this man & his reasoning. I love science. I love life.