Comments on: 2 Hours with Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Dan Dennett and Christopher Hitchens http://www.wayofthemind.org/2008/02/28/2-hours-with-richard-dawkins-sam-harris-dan-dennett-and-christopher-hitchens/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:46:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Pedro Timóteo http://www.wayofthemind.org/2008/02/28/2-hours-with-richard-dawkins-sam-harris-dan-dennett-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-1/#comment-39390 Pedro Timóteo Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:42:29 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2008/02/28/2-hours-with-richard-dawkins-sam-harris-dan-dennett-and-christopher-hitchens/#comment-39390 Indeed. I only have a slight problem (and it's *very* slight) with Hitchens. Not because I disagree with him (I loved his book, for instance, though I disagree with his opinion on the Iraq war -- he doesn't admit that it had zilch to do with terrorism), but because he reminds me of a couple of people I knew in the past. They absolutely <i>loved</i> arguing for the sake of arguing, up to the point that they would play devil's advocate, support positions they actually opposed, or even contradict themselves in the space of a single discussion, just so that they could keep arguing and disagreeing. If you agreed with them, they would instantly "change their mind" and argue against their previous (and your new) position. While that may be interesting and even fun as an intellectual exercise, it could also get pretty exasperating, in the way that you'd begin to feel like the other person doesn't really care for the truth, or about what's right or wrong, he's just disagreeing to keep the discussion going, and you're wasting your time arguing with him. Hitchens reminds me a little of those people, which is why I could not entirely shake a little feeling of annoyance. But I still admire the guy, and love to hear him talk or to read what he writes. Indeed. I only have a slight problem (and it’s *very* slight) with Hitchens. Not because I disagree with him (I loved his book, for instance, though I disagree with his opinion on the Iraq war — he doesn’t admit that it had zilch to do with terrorism), but because he reminds me of a couple of people I knew in the past.

They absolutely loved arguing for the sake of arguing, up to the point that they would play devil’s advocate, support positions they actually opposed, or even contradict themselves in the space of a single discussion, just so that they could keep arguing and disagreeing. If you agreed with them, they would instantly “change their mind” and argue against their previous (and your new) position.

While that may be interesting and even fun as an intellectual exercise, it could also get pretty exasperating, in the way that you’d begin to feel like the other person doesn’t really care for the truth, or about what’s right or wrong, he’s just disagreeing to keep the discussion going, and you’re wasting your time arguing with him.

Hitchens reminds me a little of those people, which is why I could not entirely shake a little feeling of annoyance. But I still admire the guy, and love to hear him talk or to read what he writes.

]]> By: Webs http://www.wayofthemind.org/2008/02/28/2-hours-with-richard-dawkins-sam-harris-dan-dennett-and-christopher-hitchens/comment-page-1/#comment-39368 Webs Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:25:14 +0000 http://www.wayofthemind.org/2008/02/28/2-hours-with-richard-dawkins-sam-harris-dan-dennett-and-christopher-hitchens/#comment-39368 It's very fascinating and intellectually stimulating. But beyond this you also get a chance to see how human the four really are. It’s very fascinating and intellectually stimulating. But beyond this you also get a chance to see how human the four really are.

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