On faith and the power of Human Reason

BMMachine

http://billmoyers.com/content/isaac-asimov-on-his-faith-in-the-power-of-human-reason/

The following is a video of an interview with one of the great authors and thinkers of our time, Isaac Asimov. In it he describes his attitude towards religion and also the dangers to our planet. It was recorded back in 1988 so a few things might have been a bit off.

The reason Im posting it here is that Asimov has been described (as you see in the video) as one of “the greatest explainers of the age”. He touches quite accurately on my own thoughts and the thoughts of many others about their views towards human society and the world we live in. He provides positivity as well as the realities of our problems and is absolutely worth a watch for anyone remotely interested in society and the planet at large.

One eyed Jack

Fairly important distinction there between the meaning of the thread title, and the subject of your link. Your thread title makes it sound like faith and human reason are two distinct concepts, whereas the link is about one man's faith in the power of human reason.

BMMachine

One eyed Jack wrote: »

Fairly important distinction there between the meaning of the thread title, and the subject of your link. Your thread title makes it sound like faith and human reason are two distinct concepts, whereas the link is about one man's faith in the power of human reason.

yup! sorry I fudged that up and now can't change it hope it doesn't get lost in the shuffle as its excellent stuff

silverfeather

http://a1.dspnimg.com/data/l/14345144187_bQonXsqg_l.jpg
:-)

I read the gods themselves when i was about 14 I think. Such an amazing man.

BMMachine

silverfeather wrote: »

http://a1.dspnimg.com/data/l/14345144187_bQonXsqg_l.jpg
:-)

I read the gods themselves when i was about 14 I think. Such an amazing man.

Against stupidity the Gods themselves struggle in vain

silverfeather

BMMachine wrote: »

Against stupidity the Gods themselves struggle in vain

I think it was his fav science fiction novel of his own. "biggest and most effective over-my-head writing [that I] ever produced".

The concept of melt and orgams causing memory loss!:P The timeline and structure is really sophisticated.

I am not certain but I think that second part the phrase you quoted comes from a german writer Schiller from his play 'The maid of Orleans' about Joan of Arc.
Science Fiction is high art often.

BMMachine

silverfeather wrote: »

I think it was his fav science fiction novel of his own. "biggest and most effective over-my-head writing [that I] ever produced".

The concept of melt and orgams causing memory loss!:P The timeline and structure is really sophisticated.

I am not certain but I think that second part the phrase you quoted comes from a german writer Schiller from his play 'The maid of Orleans' about Joan of Arc.
Science Fiction is high art often.

could well be. its actually the 3 chapters of the book if you put all the names together. neat little phrase

silverfeather

BMMachine wrote: »

could well be. its actually the 3 chapters of the book if you put all the names together. neat little phrase

It has seven chapters i think. But organized into three parts. It starts with a flash back the book actually opens in the second last chapter. He mixes them up and puts them in three parts. He then puts the chapters (or many of them anyway)into a b and c.

He also gives the 'softs' three genders.

silverfeather

Schiller. "Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens.", "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain"

silverfeather

Against stupidity the very gods
Themselves contend in vain. Exalted reason,
Resplendent daughter of the head divine,
Wise foundress of the system of the world,
Guide of the stars, who art thou then if thou,
Bound to the tail of folly's uncurbed steed,
Must, vainly shrieking with the drunken crowd,
Eyes open, plunge down headlong in the abyss.
Accursed, who striveth after noble ends,
And with deliberate wisdom forms his plans!
To the fool-king belongs the world.
Die Jungfrau von Orleans (The Maid of Orleans) (1801),

silverfeather

The whole sentence is this ..

Folly, thou conquerest, and I must yield!Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.

It actually makes more sense then. You have to give in to folly sometimes. It's human to be human.

BMMachine

doh yeah I meant parts but yeah it was a fantastic book and definitely the most out there of the ones I've read of his. Trying to get through the Galactic Empire series now but am having trouble finding Pebble in the Sky.
The Gods Themselves though is a great story about energy, power and life with some fantastic concepts.

silverfeather

BMMachine wrote: »

doh yeah I meant parts but yeah it was a fantastic book and definitely the most out there of the ones I've read of his. Trying to get through the Galactic Empire series now but am having trouble finding Pebble in the Sky.
The Gods Themselves though is a great story about energy, power and life with some fantastic concepts.

Mods can remove this link if they want to.

http://a2zkaraokeshop.com/onlinepdfbooks/1febu02.pdf online PDF. If mods need to take it down I understand. But you can easily find it online. Google Pebble in the sky PDF.

BMMachine

I much prefer getting the actual books, cheers though

silverfeather

BMMachine wrote: »

I much prefer getting the actual books, cheers though

Nothing like em!

Hermy

I find it odd that while on the one hand he objects to people imposing their religious beliefs on others or the Soviet Union trying to dominate the world, nonetheless he seems quite keen on the idea of the United States imposing or dominating the rest of the world in areas such as democracy, birth control and the environment.