This is just a note to say that, after a few days of vacillating over the issue, I have finally decided not to make the switch to Free Thought Blogs after all. I am very aware of the compliment that was paid to me in having been invited to join and having been welcomed to FTB, but I found myself, as I said, like a fish out of water. I have imported the Posts and Comments in full from FTB, and you will find them below. I said, in my last post “Like a Fish out of Water” that I was rethinking, and might even bring an end to my blog. I did not feel comfortable doing that, so, within a day or so I will resume posting here.
I should like thank a number of you for writing to me about my apparent “dark night of the soul.” It was very kind of you to be concerned, and it was reassuring to feel your warmth and concern.
You will notice that I have changed my theme. This one is a bit more bold, and I will stick to it for awhile. It is like a new blog, so I needed to start afresh.
Once again thanks for your support. I will be posting again soon.
welcome back and hope to keep reading the thoughtful posts you write here all the time
I am very glad you have continued to write. You are one of my favorite writers.
+1
Glad to hear you will carry on blogging, Eric, wherever that may be.
I don’t agree with a number of your philosophical positions, but agree with you on many more. It’s important that there are thoughtful, well-read voices to argue for the views you espouse (even when it may seem you are a fish out of water!) because it helps even gainsayers to think through their own positions. And even if I’m not commenting (lack of time), I’m reading the blogosphere, which would be a poorer place without you.
Yes, you were a fish out of water at FTB. I am glad you are back as an independent voice.
And no, this is not intended as a criticism of FTB, where I follow several bloggers. However, you discuss a different range of issues and from a different perspective. I’m glad to see you back here.
Eric, do keep blogging! I have not commented much, as I am not nearly so well-read or knowledgeable as you and find it difficult to come up with constructive comments, but I always find food for thought in your articles. You write and think well. When you “think out loud” in a blog, we all benefit by being prodded to think, as well.
Add me to the chorus of those whose online life would be diminished by your absence. While I am a great fan and admirer of many bloggers at FTB, your unique voice acting, as it does for me, to bridge the gap between accomodationism and uncompromisingly blinkered science partisanship is a welcome antidote to the often doctrinaire one-dimensionality of many of the FTB crowd.
So glad you didn’t give up! Your perspective on issues, while not always the same as mine, is always refreshing and thought-inducing. Keep it up!
best,
Jerry
Hello Eric. Welcome back. I read your last post at FTB. Either here or there, I have been following your writings from quite some time and will try to keep doing so. You have many good ideas. I was going to post a comment at FTB but then hesitated and ended up not posting anything. So I’ll try again here.
If I may, I only would like to share what Matt Dillahunty replied when asked about his position on free will. He said something along the lines of “if our free will is only an illusion; in our daily lives, so be it, what difference does it make? one way or another we are free to make choices and we are also responsible for these”. I have tried to start conversations with friends and relatives about free will and the concepts of determinism or compatibilism, and also about scientism (which I have been accused of falling for it at times by some) and it seems to go over their heads. This is only anecdotal of course, but it seems outside of the atheist movement and more academic circles, people just don’t care. They like their technology because it works even if they are ignorant of the science behind it, and they like their arts and other things, because it makes them happy and it provides entertainment, comfort, nostalgia and a list of other emotions.
So at the end of the day, I think that what makes our lives richer and more bearable and allows us to enjoy it is not just the awe that science provides, but also the beauty in all other things. I (we) only need to be careful not to fall into the trap of confusing reality with fiction. I know this is different because these arguments come from reason and evidence but in my limited way of understanding the debates about scientism and free will; too much moralizing one way or another sounds a bit like the mental contortions we see in theology and apologetics. This might scare away those that might want to come our way.
Hi Eric. Welcome back. Like the new look. Deep breaths
Hi Eric. Welcome back. So glad you will be continuing to blog.
Please keep it up.
Although I do not post much here (perhaps even just the one post), I do enjoy reading your articles. Your thoughts and sheer quantity of material have kept me entertained and provided much food for thought. Please continue! Kind regards.
Very glad that you will be continuing with the blogging! Your posts are some of the more well stated and interesting on the web, I have found. Your time and care is appreciated!
I’m sorry to lose you from our midst but I’m a million times more relieved that returning home has enabled you to decide to keep blogging.
We will always be colleagues. Always!
This somehow feels more natural – I can’t say why exactly.
On the awareness, mind, brain topic, some might find the review of Iain McGilchrist’s The Master and his Emissary on the right-left brain divide at Kenan Malik’s blog of interest. McGilchrist uses brain research to argue for the “right-brain past” being better than the present and how we can and should return to those glorious days of yesteryear. AC Grayling comments in his review: [a return to the past world would mean] “most of us would be superstitious and ignorant peasants working a strip farm that we would never leave from cradle to grave, under the thumb of slightly more left-hemispheric bullies in the form of the local baron and priest.”
Michael: I enjoyed The Master and his Emissary. Quite a romp through….everything really. In the end though I had some similar reservations to Tallis and penned a few thoughts here about the book. Might give it another read now you’ve mentioned it
http://sirlancsallot.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/master-and-his-emissary-reviewed.html
Good for you – FreeThoughtBlogs is a sinking ship, and you should not want to be aboard it
To paraphrase Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) on
the HONEYMOONERS: “Eric, you’re the greatest.”
clod, thanks for the link. I wasn’t aware of the gardening interests – my southern California climate zone is a bit different though.
It is very clear from McGilchrist’s reaction to Malik’s and Flanagan’s reviews that you were correct not to believe him when at the end he said “that he won’t really mind too much if his theory turns out to be incorrect.” He accuses those who don’t agree of not having read the book!
I’m glad you are back ‘home’ Eric; I value the things you write about and how you write about them.
There are a few individual bloggers on FTB that I follow, not that I always agree with their views. I even agree with most of their general FTB positions – but I found them too earnest and enthusiastic en masse. Perhaps it’s a generational thing or a cultural thing. Who knows.
I just want to say that everything about the new layout is stunning. Absolutely beautiful.
Allison, I should just remark on your comment that I know nothing about FTB as a “sinking ship”. I certainly did not leave for that reason. I was made to feel welcome, and the people over at FTB certainly have my support. My reasons for leaving were personal, more emotional than rational, and pressing because so personal. ‘The heart has its reasons …’ and all that.
A collective community where my skepticism is enabled has seemed elusive since I’ve left my religion. There seems a constant desire to join up with a group – like the FTB association, I’m not an expert on their mission but am somewhat versed in organizational structures and know that orthodoxy is a predictable consequence when individuals gather under a single brand – probably due to natural human tendencies towards evolved herd behavior. These tendencies however aren’t as appealing to me now that I’ve become skeptical. It is hard to enjoy collective agreement when the examination of my own mind has proven to be so edifying. The challenge of skeptical thought is also its benefit, the opportunity to be a majority of one. Eric, your willingness to be responsible to your own mind is a very powerful encouragement for me to keep doing the same.
Good to see you back. I’ve been busy recently, but will try to keep up. Love the Glenfinnan photo.
FTB is not a sinking ship. That’s complete nonsense, and wishful thinking on the part of a bunch of malicious people who have designated FTB as some kind of official Enemy. FTB is thriving.
FWIW, I’m happy you are back here for the simple selfish reason that I never was able to get subscriptions to work correctly. I will not start paying attention again!
I’m glad you are doing okay; I have been reading your blog over at FTB (which is where I discovered you blog) and really enjoyed your posts and their subject matter. I can’t say I understand why you’re leaving, even after reading your explanation, but that’s alright. I’ll just pop over here from time to time to see what you are writing about. Cheers!
Thank you, Ophelia. FTB seemed like a very vibrant community, and, as you know, FTB was not itself related in any way to my decision to opt out, which had completely different roots unassociated with FTB.