Quote:
Originally Posted by Gideon
I think 'what-if' is just fine. What-if has gotten us a long way as a species towards understanding things we might not have even approached. Look at Freud... generally speaking, a lot of rubbish (check out his explanation of the Eucharist, for example)... but he hit upon some VERY important ideas that were later fleshed out more sensibly.
I have this book myself. I've only skimmed it, but it's high on my reading list - Dawkins recommendation not withstanding.
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Some people after reading
TOOCITBOTBM feel the book calls both the existence of God and the value of religion into question. Personally--whether it is because Jaynes himself didn't share this view, or whether he was simply cautious in how he wrote to not needlessly alienate religious readers--I rather perceived his theories and arguments as (having the potential to) taking rational thinkers (in however unorthodox a manner) a step closer to acknowledging the reality and significance of both.
I'll be curious to hear what you thought, Gideon, once you are finished with it.
My first paragraph above is aimed primarily at Gideon, who I believe is a co-religionist, and is not meant to evoke/incite any unproductive debates.
- Ahi