re: The word you looking for is skepticism, Left isn't lacking in the practice in cynicism

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re: The word you looking for is skepticism, Left isn't lacking in the practice in cynicism

gb — 9/14/2004 12:50:05 PM (archived)

"Politically, I'm angered because most (though not all) of this silliness is emanating from the self-proclaimed Left. We're witnessing here a profound historical volte-face. For most of the past two centuries, the Left has been identified with science and against obscurantism; we have believed that rational thought and the fearless analysis of objective reality (both natural and social) are incisive tools for combating the mystifications promoted by the powerful -- not to mention being desirable human ends in their own right. The recent turn of many ``progressive'' or ``leftist'' academic humanists and social scientists toward one or another form of epistemic relativism betrays this worthy heritage and undermines the already fragile prospects for progressive social critique. Theorizing about ``the social construction of reality'' won't help us find an effective treatment for AIDS or devise strategies for preventing global warming. Nor can we combat false ideas in history, sociology, economics and politics if we reject the notions of truth and falsity. "
http://www.physics.nyu.edu/faculty/sokal/lingua_franca_v4/lingua_franca_v4.html

The whole thread (36 posts)

The problem with the Left is more mental laziness than anything else. - Tom Brosz - 9/13/2004 8:37:03 PM
- re: So your whining about the liberal media is what great thinking? The problem with the right is it's inability to even think as something less than a monolith. (n/t) - Chris Vancil - 9/18/2004 12:54:41 AM
- re: Liberals are always more thoughtful than conservatives - Raoul - 9/14/2004 4:29:02 PM
  - So Why Are They So Forgetful? - Mark Eby - 9/17/2004 2:37:57 AM
  - So is this how Belgians explain Rwanda? (n/t) - ebnelson - 9/15/2004 6:14:20 PM
    - re: Verhofstadt apologized; will Bush apologize for invading Iraq? - Raoul - 9/15/2004 8:16:08 PM
      - I was referring to Belgium's retreat from Rwanda when the genocide was gathering. - ebnelson - 9/17/2004 2:01:55 AM
        
        Pacifism At It's Best - Mark Eby - 9/17/2004 2:29:40 AM
      - No - gbaikie - 9/16/2004 7:15:09 AM
  - re: Liberals are always more thoughtful than conservatives - gbaikie - 9/14/2004 10:02:15 PM
  - Always Raoul? Always is certtainly an example of liberal thought. (n/t) - FrankC - 9/14/2004 7:40:12 PM
    - re: Ok, then: most of the time (n/t) - Raoul - 9/14/2004 10:07:54 PM
      - Always. B & W requires no thought. (n/t) - Bowser - 9/16/2004 6:07:52 AM
  - re: Liberals are always more thoughtful than conservatives - REB - 9/14/2004 6:38:14 PM
    - re: Indeed - Raoul - 9/15/2004 8:18:09 PM
      - re: Indeed - REB - 9/16/2004 7:41:03 PM
- Oof! - Beth - 9/14/2004 3:13:57 PM
  - If I meant Democrats I would say Democrats. - Tom Brosz - 9/14/2004 5:39:22 PM
    - Heck, I DID say "Democrats." Now I don't know what your point was. Should I have used "Democrats" in the header? (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 9/14/2004 5:49:58 PM
      - re: Heck, I DID say "Democrats." Now I don't know what your point was. Should I have used "Democrats" in the header? - gbaikie - 9/15/2004 12:10:47 AM
        
        To be really precise, I should have said the Democratic Party and its political cronies. (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 9/15/2004 6:01:28 AM
      - I think I get you now...and yeah, that's pretty much it. - Beth - 9/14/2004 6:41:30 PM
- The problem with the left is it's continual ...... - Publius - 9/14/2004 1:33:55 PM
  - "Liberals can't tell others what is, or is not good for them." Where do you live? Mars? (n/t) - Tom Brosz - 9/14/2004 5:45:01 PM
    - He's living with the borg- but on the stupider side of the family (n/t) - gbaikie - 9/15/2004 1:36:43 AM
- re: The problem with the Left is it doesn't practise cynicism the way the right does (n/t) - Raoul - 9/14/2004 5:32:28 AM
  - The word you looking for is skepticism, Left lack of practice in cynicism (n/t) - gbaikie - 9/14/2004 7:15:08 AM
    - re: The word you looking for is skepticism, Left isn't lacking in the practice in cynicism - gb - 9/14/2004 12:50:05 PM
- This coming from the land of black and white. - Art Martin - 9/14/2004 4:52:25 AM
- re: The problem with the Left is more mental laziness than anything else. - SDAI-Tech1 - 9/13/2004 9:10:51 PM
  - Personal analysis is not correct.......... - Lindy - 9/14/2004 3:47:35 PM
  - re: The problem with the Left is more mental laziness than anything else. - jms - 9/14/2004 4:22:47 AM
    - I'd heard of it but haven't seen it. - SDAI-Tech1 - 9/15/2004 5:15:30 AM
      - Salon's review of "What the Bleep" - jms - 9/16/2004 10:11:00 PM
    - Try "Waking Life". - Mary Anne - 9/14/2004 1:16:17 PM
      - Thanks Mary Anne, - jms - 9/14/2004 3:01:23 PM

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