→ Is a Jordan Peterson-Richard Dawkins showdown coming?
The (cordial) war of words between Jordan Peterson and Richard Dawkins could soon be reaching its finale. After tweeting out a clip of Peterson claiming that the British biologist was “mostly a Christian”, Dawkins called on the Canadian psychologist to have an in-person conversation with him.
My team sent me the following clips of @jordanbpeterson
He says I’m a Christian, although I don’t know it. Well, I certainly don’t know it. He also says I’m “the last standing avatar of the rationalist spirit.” I’ll take that!
Also, I’m still waiting for the in-person… pic.twitter.com/AOMWJHV1M3
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) April 15, 2024
Peterson responded by saying that he “wants to talk”, adding that both men had a “complex problem to address”. “Can the civilization you and I both admire,” he tweeted, “possibly be sustained without the magic of its underlying metaphysic?” Peterson went on to note that he, unlike Dawkins, did not believe that this was possible but that the pair were “more allied than not”.
“You obviously don’t want what we have to disappear,” he continued. “I also know you’re unhappy about the current state of the universities. You can see, as can I, that the scientific enterprise itself is now on shaky grounds — and not because of the Christians (even the fundamentalists).” After Ayaan Hirsi Ali, will Dawkins end up joining Team Christian too?
→ Leading Australian university introduces ‘indigenous maths’
Good news: maths just became a lot more accessible, at least for Aboriginal Australians. The science department at Australian National University (ANU), one of the most prestigious higher education institutions in the country, is now offering the chance to study “Indigenous mathematics”. ANU academic Rowena Ball claimed this month that “students of under-represented and minority groups and colonised peoples are starting to be more critical about accepting unquestioningly the cultural hegemony of mainstream European-based mathematics.”
The Science dept at Australia's most prestigious university, is now offering a course in "Indigenous Mathematics," in an effort to "decolonise maths."
"Numbers and arithmetic and accounting often are of secondary importance in Indigenous mathematics."https://t.co/hw4DLFy0nt
— Claire Lehmann (@clairlemon) April 16, 2024
For those confused about the “cultural hegemony” of European maths, Ball helpfully goes further. “Mathematics has been gatekept by the West and defined to exclude entire cultures,” she says. The ANU write-up of her Mathematics Without Borders initiative also stresses that “numbers and arithmetic and accounting often are of secondary importance in Indigenous mathematics”, and that students have been receptive of the idea. Teenagers welcoming maths lessons without numbers: surely not?
→ Chega banned by Facebook
It’s been a bad week for Right-wingers. As well as Brussels police shutting down today’s National Conservative conference, reports have surfaced that Facebook has decided to ban the Right-wing Portuguese party Chega for a whopping 10 years.
There’s just one problem: the social media giant hasn’t said why. When pressed, Facebook pointed to examples including a video on the platform, which references “Portugal’s Gypsy Community”. However, Chega defended itself by claiming that the video had already been posted by various news outlets.
The party called Facebook’s decision “absolutely incomprehensible”, labelling the move “persecution of a political party”. Later, party officials confirmed that they would be taking Meta to court over the ban. We’ll be waiting with baited breath for the Zuck’s response…
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Subscribe“After Ayaan Hirsi Ali, will Dawkins end up joining Team Christian too?”
Given that Dawkins quite clearly doesn’t believe in God, that’ll seems unlikely.
Neither does Peterson. They’re both “Cultural Christians.”
I thought he did? My mistake if so, but the article suggests that belief in God is the difference between them.
I think Peterson is an atheist or agnostic.
what does ‘believe in God’ mean tho
It means the belief that the world was created by an intelligent and purposeful designer and not the result of non-life spontaneously evolving into life (abiogenesis).
Does anyone in Europe, or anywhere in the world, think Facebook banned Chega without direction from the Portaguese govt or the EU?
No right thinking person, anyway – especially those who know Portuguese politics. The Portuguese Left are still reeling from their drubbing by the Right in the recent elections, and are now resorting to underhand tactics. They can’t win fairly, so will try unfairly.
I hope Peterson wears one of his crazy clown jackets for the debate. It would frame the expected faux profundity with a certain jenesekwa.
I wish the late and great Chris Hitchens were still alive, he would have made mincemeat of Peterson.
Made mincemeat of him, rather than just having an intelligent two way discussion?
Read Charles Taylor or William James.
Chris Hitchens is neither here nor there. Dunning-Kruger effect is strong.
‘Je ne sais quoi’ perhaps? Not really holding out much hope for your ability to think.
Idyo, nespa?
Passionately hating people like Jordan Peterson or Elon Musk generally provides a good barometer of one’s character
And Trump.
Need to convert Richard Dawkins to Christianity
Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t a lot of mathematical principles, like algebra, come from the Arabia?
Hmmm… Am wondering whether taxation in Australia will be decolonised, too, providing for alternative tax returns that are based on indigenous mathematics?
This would be really fair and, of course, progressive!
Great round-ups that make for enjoyable reading on the bus. But oh no, Australia is newsworthy for the wrong reasons again! >_< Sorry for the silliness in this part of the world, everyone!
”Indigenous mathematics” could have something to do with why they were stuck in the early Stone Age until the arrival of the British lifted them out of it.