Richard Dawkins voted #1 thinker in world

Page 1 of 4 [ 52 posts ] Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Previous topic | Next topic

Tequila
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 28,897
Location: Lancashire, UK

26 Apr 2013, 9:35 am

Quote:

Richard Dawkins voted top 'world thinker'

Famous atheist author Richard Dawkins has been named the world's top thinker in a global vote that counted 10,000 voices from over 100 countries.

When Richard Dawkins, the Oxford evolutionary biologist, coined the term 'meme' in The Selfish Gene 37 years ago, he can't have anticipated its current popularity as a word to describe internet fads," said Prospect Magazine, which conducted the poll, in explaining the biologist professor's popularity.

"But this is only one of the ways in which he thrives as an intellectual in the internet age. He is also prolific on Twitter, with more than half a million followers – and his success in this poll attests to his popularity online. He uses this platform to attack his old foe, religion, and to promote science and rationalism."

The author of The God Delusion is one of the leaders of the New Atheist movement, and has based his career on trying to show how life and the universe can be explained entirely by secular science, rejecting all supernatural explanations.

ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 88
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

26 Apr 2013, 9:45 am

I admire Dawkin's writing and all that, but Number One Thinker?

ruveyn

TheValk
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 28 Dec 2012
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 644

26 Apr 2013, 9:55 am

That's a bit sad, but then again, among whom do you choose in this age?

Shatbat
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 19 Feb 2012
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,791
Location: Where two great rivers meet

26 Apr 2013, 9:59 am

ruveyn wrote:

I admire Dawkin's writing and all that, but Number One Thinker?

ruveyn

Basically this. I enjoy reading his writings, and I can't deny he is very smart, but I wonder what is it that makes him THE number one.

_________________
To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day. - Winston Churchill

mikassyna
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2013
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,319
Location: New York, NY

26 Apr 2013, 10:02 am

I think Stephen Hawking is way, way smarter

mikassyna
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 4 Feb 2013
Age: 52
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,319
Location: New York, NY

26 Apr 2013, 10:03 am

Shatbat wrote:

but I wonder what is it that makes him THE number one.

He was able to sell a lot of books
He probably socializes and networks and markets himself well
That's about it

GGPViper
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 23 Sep 2009
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,880

26 Apr 2013, 10:30 am

mikassyna wrote:

Shatbat wrote:

but I wonder what is it that makes him THE number one.

He was able to sell a lot of books
He probably socializes and networks and markets himself well
That's about it

He has also dedicated his career to defending science against its enemies.

In other words, Dawkins is out there making sure that all those scientists who are smarter than him can dedicate their great minds to scientific work without being harassed...

But I digress... Prospect Magazine is not the ultimate arbiter on who is or is not an intellectual thinker, so people are free to agree or disagree with their rankings as much as they like...

Last edited by GGPViper on 26 Apr 2013, 10:34 am, edited 1 time in total.

VIDEODROME
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,691

26 Apr 2013, 10:34 am

Could it partly be from repeatedly debating?

Also, what he supports in his debates is basically Reason. So he is out there in defense of Critical Thinking instead of Faith.

BeautifulTechno
Blue Jay

Joined: 9 Apr 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 87
Location: If I don't know it, how could you know?

26 Apr 2013, 11:58 am

mikassyna wrote:

I think Stephen Hawking is way, way smarter

I agree. Nevertheless, Dawkins did have his contribution to the scientific community and he was very influent(oh yes, a bit controversial).

Christopher Hitchens is a fabulous thinker too, one of my favourites.

OliveOilMom
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 11 Nov 2011
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Posts: 11,447
Location: About 50 miles past the middle of nowhere

26 Apr 2013, 12:18 pm

Jesus I'm an idiot. y first thought was "He's just the host of Family Feud, he's not THAT smart! They give him the answers!"

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA. ;-)

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

Tequila
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 28,897
Location: Lancashire, UK

26 Apr 2013, 12:59 pm

BeautifulTechno wrote:

Christopher Hitchens is a fabulous thinker too, one of my favourites.

Was, you mean. He died in December 2011.

VIDEODROME
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,691

26 Apr 2013, 1:18 pm

I wish Dawkins could debate the Pope.

Robdemanc
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2010
Age: 47
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,872
Location: England

26 Apr 2013, 1:24 pm

I would say he's a good candidate for number one thinker. I admire him a lot.

AspieOtaku
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 17 Feb 2012
Age: 42
Gender: Male
Posts: 13,051
Location: San Jose

26 Apr 2013, 1:59 pm

VIDEODROME wrote:

I wish Dawkins could debate the Pope.

I wish he debated against the Black Hebrew Isrealites that preach hatred in Times Square!

_________________
Your Aspie score is 193 of 200
Your neurotypical score is 40 of 200
You are very likely an aspie
No matter where I go I will always be a Gaijin even at home. Like Anime? https://kissanime.to/AnimeList

boywonder
Raven
Raven

Joined: 1 Aug 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 114

26 Apr 2013, 3:10 pm

Awards are often given for political reasons

MCalavera
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 15 Dec 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,442

26 Apr 2013, 4:32 pm

Number 1 Thinker? No way.

A great Christian apologist debater like William Lane Craig could easily defeat him in an official debate because he actually sucks at philosophical arguments.

Page 1 of 4 [ 52 posts ] Go to page 1, 2, 3, 4 Next

Jump to:

Richard Dawkins voted #1 thinker in world Post Reply New Topic

Richard Dawkins voted #1 thinker in world