Comments on: The Best Arguments for Things I Don’t Believe http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:21:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Steven http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-300442 Steven Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:46:49 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-300442 "Gavin on Aug 23rd, 2007 at 3:49 pm I like your list, but there’s no sex. 7. Same sex couples should not be allowed to marry." Unless both the chicks are hot. lol. Love the blog Sean. Congrats on the whole getting married thing. Good luck on the day :-D Regards -Steven “Gavin on Aug 23rd, 2007 at 3:49 pm

I like your list, but there’s no sex.

7. Same sex couples should not be allowed to marry.”

Unless both the chicks are hot. lol.

Love the blog Sean. Congrats on the whole getting married thing. Good luck on the day :-D

Regards

-Steven

]]> By: Simfish InquilineKea http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299871 Simfish InquilineKea Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:31:21 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299871 Differences in IQ between races are predominantly caused/not caused (depending on your view) by genetic factors. Differences in IQ between races are predominantly caused/not caused (depending on your view) by genetic factors.

]]> By: Zoel http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299657 Zoel Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:36:41 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299657 6) We shouldn't worry about global climate change. The best argument I've heard to defend this claim by far is the one given by Bjorn Lomboug in his Ted Talk: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/62 Basically he claims that there are better things we could be spending are money on like fighting AIDS, Malaria, malnutrition since these things are killing people now and we know how to fix them. 6) We shouldn’t worry about global climate change.

The best argument I’ve heard to defend this claim by far is the one given by Bjorn Lomboug in his Ted Talk:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/62

Basically he claims that there are better things we could be spending are money on like fighting AIDS, Malaria, malnutrition since these things are killing people now and we know how to fix them.

]]> By: island http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299634 island Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:17:14 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299634 :The WMAP anomalies can be explained away. :The LHC will find new physics. :The universe is infinite. :The Anthropic Principle is just a selection effect. :The successes of quantum theory prove that Einstein wasted the last thirty years of his life. :There is no evidence for purpose in nature. because... A final cause requires an intelligent agent. :Brandon Carter was wrong when he said that scientists harbor ideological prejudices that make them willfully ignorant of the directly observed reality. The near-perfect flatness of the universe does not indicate that absolute symmetry was the nearly-missed goal of the big bang. But, 'man, I could[not] argue for their side'... sorry. :The WMAP anomalies can be explained away.

:The LHC will find new physics.

:The universe is infinite.

:The Anthropic Principle is just a selection effect.

:The successes of quantum theory prove that Einstein wasted the last thirty years of his life.

:There is no evidence for purpose in nature.
because…
A final cause requires an intelligent agent.

:Brandon Carter was wrong when he said that scientists harbor ideological prejudices that make them willfully ignorant of the directly observed reality.

The near-perfect flatness of the universe does not indicate that absolute symmetry was the nearly-missed goal of the big bang.

But, ‘man, I could[not] argue for their side’… sorry.

]]> By: Arguments For Things I Don't Believe, 1: Research on String Theory is a Largely Waste of Time | Cosmic Variance http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299617 Arguments For Things I Don't Believe, 1: Research on String Theory is a Largely Waste of Time | Cosmic Variance Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:16:30 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299617 [...] in a prospective series of my own versions of the best arguments for conclusions I don’t personally share. I’m supposed to stick to statements that I believe are true, even if I don’t think [...] [...] in a prospective series of my own versions of the best arguments for conclusions I don’t personally share. I’m supposed to stick to statements that I believe are true, even if I don’t think [...]

]]> By: Jobe http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299610 Jobe Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:51:26 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299610 We should buy bigger trucks, they're bound to run out of steel eventually. The chosen people are the Jews so why are so many Americans Christian? Violent video games is an outlet for violence which reduces violence towards others so F*CK OFF! Big crunch, big freeze, big deal, nothing I can do about it in this lifetime. Plastic garbage bags keep toxic chemicals from leaching into our water supply. Ok, I might actually believe that one. $450 trillion dollars should be invested in a war in Iraq rather than health, education, or any other of that social liberal nonsense for Americans. Heck, strong and free? Feeling poor and unwelcome? Just pretend to be Canadian. If you're Canadian, pretend to be French. If you're French pretend to be American.. We should buy bigger trucks, they’re bound to run out of steel eventually.

The chosen people are the Jews so why are so many Americans Christian?

Violent video games is an outlet for violence which reduces violence towards others so F*CK OFF!

Big crunch, big freeze, big deal, nothing I can do about it in this lifetime.

Plastic garbage bags keep toxic chemicals from leaching into our water supply. Ok, I might actually believe that one.

$450 trillion dollars should be invested in a war in Iraq rather than health, education, or any other of that social liberal nonsense for Americans. Heck, strong and free? Feeling poor and unwelcome? Just pretend to be Canadian. If you’re Canadian, pretend to be French. If you’re French pretend to be American..

]]> By: Chris W. http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299600 Chris W. Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:23:13 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299600 Related, in a way: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/23/science/23cnd-body.html?_r=1&oref=slogin" rel="nofollow"><b>Scientists Induce Out-of-Body Sensation</b></a> (<em>New York Times</em>, 8/23/2007) Related, in a way:

Scientists Induce Out-of-Body Sensation
(New York Times, 8/23/2007)

]]> By: spaceman http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299594 spaceman Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:38:39 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299594 Iraq in the same category as Darfur, sure, easily. Just in terms of the number of people murdered and displaced Iraq actually has more victims of aggression than does Darfur-- and this does not even count the decade long sanctions which led to the deaths of thousands more Iraqis. Also, the Darfur conflict is not strictly about differences in belief as some believe-- like Iraq it is about the struggle for resources in which a more powerful group is using extraordinary violence to control the water and land of a less powerful group just like the U.S. is using extraordinary violence to control a region that contains two thirds of the world's remaining petrol so it can continue to cheaply run its Earth-wrecking consumer culture. If Iraq did not contain all of the oil that it does and it's major resource was vegatables do you really seriously for a minute think the US would have spent over a trillion dollars invading it? The fundamental moral question is this: Does one country have the right to invade another country and lcontribute directly and/or indirectly to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions more of that country's citizens so that it can secure natural resources? Wouldn't the more conservative "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" approach be for the superpower to have used its enormous technological prowess to build, over the past couple decades, a renewable energy based economy? And even if it didn't that still doesn't give it the right to thief and murder. Iraq in the same category as Darfur, sure, easily. Just in terms of the number of people murdered and displaced Iraq actually has more victims of aggression than does Darfur– and this does not even count the decade long sanctions which led to the deaths of thousands more Iraqis. Also, the Darfur conflict is not strictly about differences in belief as some believe– like Iraq it is about the struggle for resources in which a more powerful group is using extraordinary violence to control the water and land of a less powerful group just like the U.S. is using extraordinary violence to control a region that contains two thirds of the world’s remaining petrol so it can continue to cheaply run its Earth-wrecking consumer culture. If Iraq did not contain all of the oil that it does and it’s major resource was vegatables do you really seriously for a minute think the US would have spent over a trillion dollars invading it?

The fundamental moral question is this: Does one country have the right to invade another country and lcontribute directly and/or indirectly to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and the displacement of millions more of that country’s citizens so that it can secure natural resources? Wouldn’t the more conservative “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” approach be for the superpower to have used its enormous technological prowess to build, over the past couple decades, a renewable energy based economy? And even if it didn’t that still doesn’t give it the right to thief and murder.

]]> By: Count Iblis http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299459 Count Iblis Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:45:50 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299459 Rodrigo, If our observations could fix the universe we are in unambiguously then I would agree. However, it is impossible for an observer to exactly determine which of the possible universes he is in. The finite amount of information stored in the brain of an observer will always be compatible with being in many possible universes. So, when we say "our universe" we are not really specifying a unique universe. Rodrigo,

If our observations could fix the universe we are in unambiguously then I would agree. However, it is impossible for an observer to exactly determine which of the possible universes he is in. The finite amount of information stored in the brain of an observer will always be compatible with being in many possible universes.

So, when we say “our universe” we are not really specifying a unique universe.

]]> By: Rodrigo http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299435 Rodrigo Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:24:21 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299435 N-) There´s no point talking about what´s outside the universe. Time and space are things created in OUR universe, and nobody will ever be able to proof anything about such topic. Sorry my poor english, I speak only portuguese.. ;) N-) There´s no point talking about what´s outside the universe. Time and space are things created in OUR universe, and nobody will ever be able to proof anything about such topic.

Sorry my poor english, I speak only portuguese.. ;)

]]> By: Thomas Larsson http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299423 Thomas Larsson Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:52:25 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299423 1. Ed Witten exists. 2. Hm. Difficult to argue that the Iraq war is a success, unless you are al-Qaida. 3. My wife's scientific career has been far more stellar than mine. I mean, I'm not a member of the Nobel assembly. 4. Ever heard the word "experiment"? 5. Talking to multiversepots is intrinsically a waste of time. 6. If climate change means local warming in Sweden, I'm in favor of it. Alas, I'm somewhat worried that the Gulf stream may stop and cause local freezing. 1. Ed Witten exists.

2. Hm. Difficult to argue that the Iraq war is a success, unless you are al-Qaida.

3. My wife’s scientific career has been far more stellar than mine. I mean, I’m not a member of the Nobel assembly.

4. Ever heard the word “experiment”?

5. Talking to multiversepots is intrinsically a waste of time.

6. If climate change means local warming in Sweden, I’m in favor of it. Alas, I’m somewhat worried that the Gulf stream may stop and cause local freezing.

]]> By: Q9 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299408 Q9 Sat, 25 Aug 2007 09:22:40 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299408 Ok Sean here's a really hard one how about: "Death IS a state of Mind" Ok Sean here’s a really hard one
how about: “Death IS a state of Mind”

]]> By: Elliot http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299399 Elliot Sat, 25 Aug 2007 03:22:16 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299399 The high cost of health care is due to frivolous lawsuits by trial lawyers. The high cost of health care is due to frivolous lawsuits by trial lawyers.

]]> By: zevgoldman http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299392 zevgoldman Fri, 24 Aug 2007 23:45:16 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299392 The war in Vietnam was a civil war. Liberals grasp economic theory. Socialism doesn't require coercion. I wasn't a radical liberal at one time. The war in Vietnam was a civil war.
Liberals grasp economic theory.
Socialism doesn’t require coercion.
I wasn’t a radical liberal at one time.

]]> By: Brian http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299385 Brian Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:52:54 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299385 1. God exists or we wouldn't be talking about him. 2. The Iraq war was a good idea for a Stephen King Movie. 3. Women scientists should not complain about discrimination - note gender in remark #1 above. 4. Research on string theory is a waste of time unless you get paid for it. 5. Talking about the multiverse is intrinsically non-scientfic, since the word "intrinsic" only has meaning within the context of one specfic universe. 6. We shouldn't worry about global climate change. Worrying never helps. 1. God exists or we wouldn’t be talking about him.
2. The Iraq war was a good idea for a Stephen King Movie.
3. Women scientists should not complain about discrimination - note gender in remark #1 above.
4. Research on string theory is a waste of time unless you get paid for it.
5. Talking about the multiverse is intrinsically non-scientfic, since the word “intrinsic” only has meaning within the context of one specfic universe.
6. We shouldn’t worry about global climate change. Worrying never helps.

]]> By: Elliot http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299375 Elliot Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:26:39 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299375 Cutting taxes on rich people and corporations is good for the middle class and poor Elliot Cutting taxes on rich people and corporations is good for the middle class and poor

Elliot

]]> By: Dima http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299370 Dima Fri, 24 Aug 2007 20:39:24 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299370 Michael BAcon, AFAICT, string ladscape could be yet another branch of the multiverse or maybe the repository of multiverses :D Michael BAcon, AFAICT, string ladscape could be yet another branch of the multiverse or maybe the repository of multiverses :D

]]> By: island http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299359 island Fri, 24 Aug 2007 19:25:22 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299359 <i>6) We shouldn’t worry about global climate change.</i> I double-triple dare ya. 6) We shouldn’t worry about global climate change.

I double-triple dare ya.

]]> By: Herb http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299350 Herb Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:22:07 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299350 How about, "Atheists cannot be moral" ? How about, “Atheists cannot be moral” ?

]]> By: Michael BAcon http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299348 Michael BAcon Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:51:34 +0000 http://cosmicvariance.com/2007/08/23/the-best-arguments-for-things-i-dont-believe/#comment-299348 Neil, I understand that Multiverse can be defined in a number of different ways, some compatible with each other and some not. I was just choosing the way that the concept makes the most sense to me. The string "landscape" is another story which I understand even less of. Neil,

I understand that Multiverse can be defined in a number of different ways, some compatible with each other and some not. I was just choosing the way that the concept makes the most sense to me. The string “landscape” is another story which I understand even less of.

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