it seemed like they were talking at right angles to each other. she didn't really ask him questions, and to the degree that she did he didn't really respond. there was no depth there, just claims. The notion of scientifically understanding belief is fascinating but all he's basically said is "it can be done" without anything else. bah. also, how professory does he look in that picture? right out of central casting.

well, i think you'll have to read a dennett book or essay to get more in depth.

Yeah, you pretty much missed out. He's an opinionated blowhard sometimes, but the class that I took with him was great.

Woah, evan!

Hi.

well, yeah, i wouldn't expect the theory to be fleshed out in an interview. but there wasn't even anything to make me read deeper except the statement of what the theory was, and that was over by the first question. i'm dissing the interview, not the subject.

it's one of those nyt magazine one-pagers -- they're always shallow interviews.

Very odd interviewer. It felt as if the questions had been mailed in by a bunch of different people, ala an internet chat.

i have a new signature quote:
"Belief can be explained in much the way that cancer can."

wait. this one's better:
"Certainly the idea of a God that can answer prayers and whom you can talk to, and who intervenes in the world - that's a hopeless idea. There is no such thing. "

why the fuck didn't i take a class with this guy?! he's nothing but fantastically hilarious and accurate anti-jebus soundbites!
"Churches have given us great treasures. Whether that pays for the harm they have done is another matter."

cancer quote gets my vote. succinct and lovely.

comparing religion to cancer is always awesome.

He has a fantastic number of scenarios and ideas about materialism (vs. dualism), but every time I see him published or in the news, it's always about some far-fetched idea. You know, the only way to stay famous is to come out with new ideas (Paris Hilton being the exception). Whether that be making up some gibberish about religion being a consequence of the brain's materialism or whether you got knocked up by brad pitt, it's all the same thing.

For those who might be interested, he's giving a talk on this topic at Columbia U. in a few weeks. It's part of the year long "Theatre of Ideas" series. You can probably find more info on the Columbia website.