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RIP: Stephen Jay Gould

Posted by chrisd on from the becoming-what-you-study dept.

gdyas writes: " Reuters reports that famed paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould has died today at age 60 of cancer. Famous for his many essays on natural history, modifications to Darwin's theories, and as the winner of the American Book Award for "The Mismeasure of Man", a history of intelligence testing, Gould was and remains a profound influence on biology." CNN also has a piece on him.

6 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Gould the Marxist and Atheist by DerekTheRed · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Of course all this is rather pointless sophistry, because GOD IS JUST IMAGINARY. Gould, while a luminary in the world of knowledge, has not gone anywhere. He's just dead. We'll miss him, and we needed him now more than ever, but that's it.

    --

    "Thank you, God, for your healing gift of religion."

  2. This is a discussion of science... by fmaxwell · · Score: 2, Flamebait

    Just like the rest of us, athiests go where God sends them.

    Quit trying to pass of your religious beliefs as factual. Yes, I know that you are CERTAIN that your religious beliefs are correct. The ancient Romans, Vikings, Aztecs, Mayans, Greeks, Mesopotamians, and Egyptians were just as certain about their religious beliefs.

    Let's stick to science on Slashdot rather than wandering off into occult beliefs about people rising from the dead, or being magically turned into pillers of salt, or living inside of whales, or fitting two of each animal on Earth into a boat, or women being impregnated by invisible, all-powerful beings.

    In 5,000 years, your religious beliefs will get the same level of respect as we give the ancient Chinese belief that eclipses were caused by dragons eating the sun.

    1. Re:This is a discussion of science... by Darby · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      You wanna be scientific? ok, answer this:

      1. Where do we come from?
      2. What are we doing here on earth? (What's our purpose of living?)
      3. Where are we going after death?

      None of the ancient "beliefs" that you listed are able to answer these questions in a manner that is relevant to where you are in life as a living-human being in this world today... except *one*!!

      In point of fact all of the beliefs he listed and every other one which he didn't answered those questions with exactly the same accuracy and relevance as yours.

      These questions are legitimate "scientific" questions

      Actually, only #1 is a scientific question. The other two questions are purely philosophical.

      Now you answer #1 and replace "we" with god. Now substitute that answer with "the universe" put back in.
      See how your god adds no information to the issue and merely serves to try and hide your ignorance?

    2. Re:This is a discussion of science... by fmaxwell · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      You wanna be scientific? ok, answer this:

      1. Where do we come from?
      2. What are we doing here on earth? (What's our purpose of living?)
      3. Where are we going after death?

      An inability to answer a question is not proof, or even evidence, of the existence of a deity. We can answer questions now that would have been unfathomable to earlier generations. We can see things with electron microscopes and telescopes that were unthinkable in centuries past. Does the answering of each question make the existence of God less likely?

      These questions are legitimate "scientific" questions,

      The first one might, vaguely be described as scientific (despite its generality and the lack of clarity with which it was phrased). I think evolution does a pretty good job of answering that one.

      on top of that, these ones actually matters, these are the ones that give you meaning, security, and hope to keep on living. Are you going to say that *your* life doesn't matter to you?

      Your questions give a very strong indication of why you (and so many others) have a deep-seated psychological need for religious beliefs. What if there is no divine "purpose" to our existence? What if we don't "go" anywhere after death? What if we simply cease to live, both physically and intellectually, as evidence would suggest?

      Have you ever heard of the scientific method? It doesn't involve choosing to believe in comforting explanations for things that make you uneasy (e.g, your own mortality).

  3. John Katz of biology by peter303 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Says something interesting now and then, but writes way too much. Ignore after a while.

    1. Re:John Katz of biology by ElvenSmith · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      LOL!! that was funny..yeah kinda like that.. i mean some of these guys write maybe 3 really exciting books out of a total career of 300..the rest are all rehashes.. kind of like Deepak Chopra..tons of popular books..all flighty and intense yet lightweight..nothing refreshingly new from book to book..