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#11
09-13-2007, 10:58 PM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
[ QUOTE ]
Regardless of how you personally feel about AC for example, do you think so many people around here would have converted if we did nothing but perpetually bitch about the state, and did not propose a positive alternative (i.e. social order based on peace, freedom, voluntary exchange, etc.)? I think not. [/ QUOTE ] Yeah. Statists bitch about the state all the time, but still believe that it is a "necessary evil." Whether it is or not, nobody is going to change their view of it until a viable alternative is presented to fill it's place. While AC would literally fill it with "nothing," that space nonetheless is filled by the results of the absence of the state--supposedly freedom and peace--and THAT is what convinces statists to reconsider their stance. 
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#12
09-13-2007, 11:00 PM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
[ QUOTE ]
But I was thinking more broadly. Negative campaign ads work more than positive ones. Rebels are great at overthrowing governments, but terrible at running their own. Irony is more prevalent than sentimentality. I don't know why, but it's easier to convince people that X is bad than that Y is good. [/ QUOTE ] Ronald Reagan would disagree with you. John Kerry shows that Reagan was right.
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#13
09-13-2007, 11:09 PM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
While some of your examples are well taken, I don't think there's an underlying principle at work. Rebels always promise a better government than the last one. I'm not sure irony exceeds sentimentality; maybe among males, but probably not among females.
I don't think it is inherently easier to convince people that X is bad than that Y is good. I believe this will be the case for some people. Hell, perhaps entire cultures. But I don't think that it's true universally. In any event, I don't think it's something we'd be able to come up with definitive arguments for either way.
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#14
09-13-2007, 11:15 PM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
If it is true that it is easier to convince someone that Y is bad than that X is good, it is likely because it is easier to criticize a theory, institution, form of social organization etc. than it is to come up with an unobjectionable theory etc.
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#15
09-13-2007, 11:25 PM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
[ QUOTE ]
If it is true that it is easier to convince someone that Y is bad than that X is good, it is likely because it is easier to criticize a theory, institution, form of social organization etc. than it is to come up with an unobjectionable theory etc. [/ QUOTE ] Which is precisely the point. As professor falken said, "...then DON'T!" STOP TRYING to come up with a one-size-fits all solution!
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#16
09-13-2007, 11:31 PM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
[ QUOTE ]
If it is true that it is easier to convince someone that Y is bad than that X is good, it is likely because it is easier to criticize a theory, institution, form of social organization etc. than it is to come up with an unobjectionable theory etc. [/ QUOTE ] Perhaps it's easier to convince them that Y is bad, but I think it's probably easier to influence their actions if they're convinced X is good.
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#17
09-14-2007, 01:32 AM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
Replace religion with thought. This is pretty clear with everything Dawkins, et al., writes about. As for the role t hat religion plays in ceremonies, it would be horridly presumptuous for Dawkins or anyone else to come of with a uniform replacement. Replace it with whatever satisfies your mind. Hell, keep the priest and the church for your marriage if you want. It's all up to you. If you want to replace baptism with a horseback ride, fine. If you want to replace the priest/pastor at your wedding with a beatboxing MC, great.
I mean, we're not talking about ripping out your car engine here. This is more like quitting smoking. You don't actually "need" to replace tobacco with anything, because tobacco DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU.
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#19
09-14-2007, 02:13 AM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
[ QUOTE ]
"An anti-something movement displays a purely negative attitude. It has no chance whatever to succeed. Its passionate diatribes virtually advertise the program they attack. People must fight for something that they want to achieve, not simply reject an evil, however bad it may be." --Ludwig von Mises [/ QUOTE ] I quite agree. That's probably why this movie is so popular.
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#20
09-14-2007, 02:53 AM
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Re: Mises and \"New Atheism\"
[ QUOTE ]
Replace religion with thought. This is pretty clear with everything Dawkins, et al., writes about. As for the role t hat religion plays in ceremonies, it would be horridly presumptuous for Dawkins or anyone else to come of with a uniform replacement. Replace it with whatever satisfies your mind. Hell, keep the priest and the church for your marriage if you want. It's all up to you. If you want to replace baptism with a horseback ride, fine. If you want to replace the priest/pastor at your wedding with a beatboxing MC, great. I mean, we're not talking about ripping out your car engine here. This is more like quitting smoking. You don't actually "need" to replace tobacco with anything, because tobacco DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR YOU. [/ QUOTE ] Smoking is an excellent metaphor, thank you.
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