Dennett's/Dawkins' hateful political ideology is perfectly "cognate" with materialist theory in general, and Darwinist theory in particular, on all principal points." As it stands, it's an unsupported assertion, and one that begs way too many questions:
- Darwinist theory is necessarily materialist (I think it is of necessity naturalist, but not materialist; I've previously expressed doubts about determinist theories of mind, for example).
- That Dennett and Dawkins have a particular 'bright' political ideology. I don't see it. I chased down Dennett's article, and it simply said they were a group of naturalist rationalists. To tell you the truth, after trying to argue with our own troup of fundamentalist know-nothings (and you know that doesn't include you or a few others here, but it includes a lot of posters on crevo threads), I'm seriously thinking of joining these folks, if only to make sure they have an appropriately conservative counterweight.
Maybe we can have a caucus of bright FReepers.
BTW, I will post the Dennett article, when I get time.
As it stands, it's an unsupported assertion, and one that begs way too many questions.... LOL, RWP!!! Maybe that's the reason I invited you here, to just "knock it all down!" (Which you chose not to do at this time, I gather.)
I'm all up for "a caucus of bright FReepers" to deliberate this question. What forum could conduce to that end? That wouldn't end up with the main argument of debate being hauled, kicking and screaming, into the Smokey Back Room -- hardly a serious archive of "serious thought" here, or anywhere else?...
I'm always looking forward to anything new from Dennett. He seems to make sense about a lot of things, often enough. (But I still "lose him" on grounds of logic, reason, experience, world view in the longer run....)
I'm looking forward to anything of his you wish to post here, RWP. (I'm sure I'd find some way to have "fun with it," one way or another....)
Good night, and thanks in advance!