You know the creationist parable that "a watch implies a watchmaker"?
Someone ran an experiment.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The venerable Richard Dawkins receives an honorary degree from the University of Valencia. According to the Telegraph...
"Last year, [Richard Dawkins] announced his intention to write a book warning children of the dangers in believing what he called "anti-scientific" fairytales, including Harry Potter."
Now, wait a moment. Was there a child in my generation who genuinely, honestly, believed that they could go to Hogwarts or set fire to people with pointy sticks stuffed with unicorn hairs? While I agree with Professor Dawkins that taking a skeptical stance toward what you are told is for all intents and purposes a good practice, I don't think that extends to fiction when the understanding is there that you are reading fiction. There is a time and a place for escapism, and I think to ask people - children especially - to be 100% realistic and grounded in the real world at all times without any room for imagination would lead to a very dull life.
I will be the first to expound upon the wonders of the natural world and how exciting it is to live in these times when we can see to the beginning of the universe and read our own genome like a book. But sometimes, I want to pretend that there are wizards and dragons and Every-Flavor Beans and goblins running the banks and people flying around on broomsticks catching little golden balls with wings. It's fun. It's entertaining. I know it's fiction, and even though I was deplorably gullible in my youth, I always did.
What's more, Harry Potter supplies an excellent allegory for the world today, full of undeserved prejudice and untrustworthy government. Far from being a simple "anti-scientific fairytale", Harry Potter is an excellent work of literature (children's or otherwise) that in many ways exemplifies some of the key struggles of our time. And it's certainly an excellent mental playground for adolescents struggling with their own internal battles of good and evil.
Other than that, Professor Dawkins, I salute you. Congratulations on your honorary degree (like you really needed another one).
PS: According to this Pharyngula post, Dawkins was misquoted by the Telegraph in that he in fact called the pope "either stupid, ignorant or wicked."
"Last year, [Richard Dawkins] announced his intention to write a book warning children of the dangers in believing what he called "anti-scientific" fairytales, including Harry Potter."
Now, wait a moment. Was there a child in my generation who genuinely, honestly, believed that they could go to Hogwarts or set fire to people with pointy sticks stuffed with unicorn hairs? While I agree with Professor Dawkins that taking a skeptical stance toward what you are told is for all intents and purposes a good practice, I don't think that extends to fiction when the understanding is there that you are reading fiction. There is a time and a place for escapism, and I think to ask people - children especially - to be 100% realistic and grounded in the real world at all times without any room for imagination would lead to a very dull life.
I will be the first to expound upon the wonders of the natural world and how exciting it is to live in these times when we can see to the beginning of the universe and read our own genome like a book. But sometimes, I want to pretend that there are wizards and dragons and Every-Flavor Beans and goblins running the banks and people flying around on broomsticks catching little golden balls with wings. It's fun. It's entertaining. I know it's fiction, and even though I was deplorably gullible in my youth, I always did.
What's more, Harry Potter supplies an excellent allegory for the world today, full of undeserved prejudice and untrustworthy government. Far from being a simple "anti-scientific fairytale", Harry Potter is an excellent work of literature (children's or otherwise) that in many ways exemplifies some of the key struggles of our time. And it's certainly an excellent mental playground for adolescents struggling with their own internal battles of good and evil.
Other than that, Professor Dawkins, I salute you. Congratulations on your honorary degree (like you really needed another one).
PS: According to this Pharyngula post, Dawkins was misquoted by the Telegraph in that he in fact called the pope "either stupid, ignorant or wicked."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
