Wei_Dai comments on Bloggingheads: Yudkowsky and Aaronson talk about AI and Many-worlds - Less Wrong

18 Post author: Vladimir_Nesov 16 August 2009 04:06PM

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Comment author: Furcas 17 August 2009 06:22:16PM *  5 points [-]

It doesn't seem to me they're doing anything terribly subversive. Even the thing you linked to didn't look too bad - they even have Christopher Hitchens up there.

Like I said, they're a sneaky bunch. Out of 13 contributors, they invite three or four forthright atheists, just to make it seem like they're being fair. The rest are theists (one Muslim and lots of Christians) or 'faitheists', agnostics and pantheists who believe in belief.

It seems like some sort of newagey softboiled ecumenical pantheism might just be the way to cut the knot between angry atheists and angry theists. Pragmatism moves me to think they're on the right side here.

First, the Templeton Foundation's current president, John Templeton Jr., is an evangelical Christian. The softboiled pantheism you think you're seeing is Christianity hidden by prodigious volumes of smoke.

Second, whatever happened to caring about the truth? Would you also say that belief in a cube-shaped Earth might just be the way to cut the knot between angry round-Earthers and angry flat-Earthers?

Comment author: Wei_Dai 17 August 2009 06:51:33PM *  14 points [-]

It's interesting to compare the 1996 Templeton site:

The Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion (especially spiritual information through science) is awarded each year to a living person who shows extraordinary originality in advancing humankind's understanding of God.

to the current site:

The Prize is intended to recognize exemplary achievement in work related to life's spiritual dimension.

Another one. Old:

  • Create and fund projects forging stronger relationships and insights linking the sciences and all religions
  • Apply scientific methodology to the study of religious and spiritual subjects
  • Support progress in religion by increasing the body of spiritual information through scientific research
  • Encourage a greater appreciation of the importance of the free enterprise system and the values that support it
  • Promote character and value development in educational institutions

New:

Established in 1987, the Foundation’s mission is to serve as a philanthropic catalyst for discovery in areas engaging life’s biggest questions. These questions range from explorations into the laws of nature and the universe to questions on the nature of love, gratitude, forgiveness and creativity.

ETA: I wonder what LessWrong will look like in 13 years. :)

Comment author: PhilGoetz 17 August 2009 09:01:44PM 4 points [-]

If you look at the history of the Templeton Prize and their other endeavors, you will find that they never gave an award or a grant to anybody who came up with the "wrong answers". I mean, if they were really interested in "engaging life's biggest questions" they would have given a Templeton to Dawkins for "The God Delusion".

Comment author: Furcas 17 August 2009 07:22:41PM 1 point [-]

Thank you!!! That's exactly what I've been looking for (on and off) for the last 20 minutes.

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