File 028933
Email Chain: Krauss and Chomsky Discuss Atheism and Religion Article (File 028933)
Email correspondence between Lawrence Krauss and Noam Chomsky discussing a New Yorker article about atheism in science, with commentary on the relationship between religion, dogma, and rational discourse.
Summary
Lawrence Krauss forwards a New Yorker article titled 'All Scientists Should Be Militant Atheists' to Noam Chomsky and Jeffrey E. The email chain includes Chomsky's response distinguishing between religious and secular dogmatism, arguing for evidence-based argument over ridicule, and commentary on confronting irrational belief systems while maintaining respect for their advocates. The discussion reflects exchanges among prominent intellectuals on science, religion, and rationalism.
From:Sent:To:CC:Subject:Attachments:Lawrence Krauss9/10/2015 8:08:32 PMNoam Chomskyjeffrey E. [jeeyacation@gmail.com];Re: an article you may both hate. or like.DA866543-7401-4A5A-8E50-FD32E33A5OEC.pngImportance: HighYup.Lawrence M. KraussDirector, The Origins Project at ASUFoundation ProfessorSchool of Earth & Space Exploration and Physics DepartmentArizona State University, P.O. Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404Research Office: Assistant_____________Origins Officeorigins.asu.edu I twitter.com/Ikraussl I krauss.faculty.asu.eduSent from my iPhoneOn Sep 10, 2015, at 12:09 PM, Noam Chomsky <I quite agree. And I'm pretty sure Lawrence does too.From: jeffrey E. [mailto:jeevacation@gmail.com]Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 3:02 PMTo: Noam ChomskyCc: Lawrence KraussSubject: Re: an article you may both hate. or like.wrote:I think religion plays a major positive role in many lives. . i dont like fanaticism on either side. . sorryOn Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 7:52 PM, Noam Chomsky < wrote:Thanks for sending. A wide area of agreement, but not total.On confronting dogma, I of course agree — though in my opinion the secular religions — nationalist fanaticism, etc. — aremuch more dangerous. And if some find rational discussion offensive — as, for example, mainstream academics finddismantling myths of "American exceptionalism" or "Israeli self-defense" or Obama's mass murder campaign, etc.,offensive — so be it.But I don't see why that should extend to ridicule. That includes astrologists. Astronomers can refute astrology, whilerecognizing that perfectly honest and deluded people may believe it and should be treated with respect, while theirbeliefs are confronted with evidence. I also don't see why we should ridicule religious dogma, just as I don't think weshould ridicule the much more pernicious secular dogmas. Rather, we should respond to irrational belief withHOUSE OVERSIGHT 028933argument and evidence, while recognizing that their advocates (like most of the intellectual world in the case of seculardogma) are people who we should be responding to but without ridiculing them. It may be hard sometimes. Forexample, when the icon and founding father of sober non-sentimental Realism in International Affairs informs us thatthe US, unlike other countries, has a "transcendental purpose," and the fact that it constantly acts in contradiction toits purpose doesn't matter because the facts are just "abuse of history" while real history is "the evidence of history asour minds reflect it," then it's hard to avoid ridicule. But we should. There's no point ridiculing virtually the entire IRprofession and the major journals, even though such extraordinary irrationality leads to major human disasters.On Davis, I frankly think that's a non-issue. If she decides she cannot do her job as the conditions of employmentrequire (including following the law), then she can quit and look for another job. As in any other such case.NoamFrom: Lawrence Krauss [mailto__________________________Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 1:51 AMTo: Noam Chomsky jeffrey E. <jeevacation@gmail.com>Subject: an article you may both hate. or like.hope all is well.Lawrencehttp://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/all-scientists-should-be-militant-atheistsLawrence M. KraussDirector, The Origins Project at ASUCo-Director, Cosmology InitiativeFoundation ProfessorSchool of Earth & Space Exploration and Physics DepartmentArizona State University, P.O. Box 871404, Tempe, AZ 85287-1404Research Office: AssistantOrigins Officeorigins.asu.edu I twitter.com/Ikraussl I krauss.faculty.asu.edu<image00 1 .png>please noteHOUSE OVERSIGHT 028934The information contained in this communication isconfidential, may be attorney-client privileged, mayconstitute inside information, and is intended only forthe use of the addressee. It is the property ofJEEUnauthorized use, disclosure or copying of thiscommunication or any part thereof is strictly prohibitedand may be unlawful. If you have received thiscommunication in error, please notify us immediately byreturn e-mail or by e-mail to jeevacation@gmail.com, anddestroy this communication and all copies thereof,including all attachments. copyright -all rights reservedHOUSE OVERSIGHT 028935