As someone who likes to listen Sam Harris, reads Michael Shermer and sometimes even listens Joe Rogan and have read a little Mr. Peterson, I want to comment these guys.
Firstly things first: If I criticize these guys it does not mean that I think their net contribution is net negative.
Sam Harris is smart and nice to listen, but he identifies with his opinions very strongly. He has very clear tendency to "shut down intellectually" when challenged. I have listened enough of his podcasts to realize the moment when he turns defensive. The rest of the podcast is just him repeating his point of view in different ways until the quest leaves it to be. He goes from rational to rationalizing very fast.
Shermer has a good cause, but his error is breaching to the choir and skipping into conclusion. He always selects the easiest thing to debunk and waves away everythign else. He is fundamentalist christian turned turned into fundamentalist skeptic. He contributes less and less intellectually.
I really appreciate what Jordan Peterson is doing. He actually concentrates on the positive for a group of people who are fed confrontation and anger. But his approach is motivational/charismatic, not scientific even if he has all the credential. That's not a bad thing if he can reach people.
Joe Rogan is the purest case of "manly bullshit". It's entertaining if you understand that it has just entertainment value, nothing intellectual. He is smarter Alex Jones without negativity or ill intent. I think his net positive effect comes from attracting people who fall into every and conspiracy theory from negative influences.
Conclusion: Opinionated is not intellectual. Intellectually these guys are punching below their weight class. We should not compare them to Richard Dawkins or others or give them status as top intellectuals challengers.
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[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 15.7 ms ] threadFirstly things first: If I criticize these guys it does not mean that I think their net contribution is net negative.
Sam Harris is smart and nice to listen, but he identifies with his opinions very strongly. He has very clear tendency to "shut down intellectually" when challenged. I have listened enough of his podcasts to realize the moment when he turns defensive. The rest of the podcast is just him repeating his point of view in different ways until the quest leaves it to be. He goes from rational to rationalizing very fast.
Shermer has a good cause, but his error is breaching to the choir and skipping into conclusion. He always selects the easiest thing to debunk and waves away everythign else. He is fundamentalist christian turned turned into fundamentalist skeptic. He contributes less and less intellectually.
I really appreciate what Jordan Peterson is doing. He actually concentrates on the positive for a group of people who are fed confrontation and anger. But his approach is motivational/charismatic, not scientific even if he has all the credential. That's not a bad thing if he can reach people.
Joe Rogan is the purest case of "manly bullshit". It's entertaining if you understand that it has just entertainment value, nothing intellectual. He is smarter Alex Jones without negativity or ill intent. I think his net positive effect comes from attracting people who fall into every and conspiracy theory from negative influences.
Conclusion: Opinionated is not intellectual. Intellectually these guys are punching below their weight class. We should not compare them to Richard Dawkins or others or give them status as top intellectuals challengers.