tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676829.post8713640063037378665..comments2008-03-25T11:38:06.849-04:00Oran P. Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00405731913588504085noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676829.post-37326576848285155022008-03-25T11:38:00.000-04:002008-03-25T11:38:00.000-04:00The Dawkins piece on cultural relativism was written at a particular time in history when it seems to be important to him to fire a shot across the bows of the humanities and social sciences (see <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_wars" REL="nofollow">this article</A> or Ullica Segerstrale's book on "The Science Wars."<BR/><BR/>Dawkins' predilections have always been toward explaining everything via his field of specialty (thus, memes) so he is exceedingly hostile to attempts by the humanities to explain his field, which, in part, is what cultural relativism drives us toward: looking at science as a social institution rather than just as a process of revealing the truth.<BR/><BR/>So, yes, he's arguing very selectively, with people who take the most extreme sorts of positions opposite him, and even then I don't think he plays exactly fair with their point-of-view.Oran P. Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00405731913588504085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676829.post-83279915955496276712008-03-20T19:15:00.000-04:002008-03-20T19:15:00.000-04:00Wonderful article. Totally agree. I used to think highly of Dawkins until a month ago I came accross the same little story yo tell here. I was pretty disillusioned that he would through overboard such a uselful intellectual tool as cultural relativism. It was particuarly useful for me when I was a south american gradstudent in the US.<BR/><BR/>I had not read the note about the other sensible people who call themselves cultural relativist, though. I'm only little less disillusioned now.<BR/><BR/>In my head, I've been trying to organize my ideas on the subject , but it turns out you said exactly what I wanted to say. I am a geologist, and I think that makes me pretty bad philosopher (social sciences are hoby of mine), so your article came as great relief.<BR/><BR/>Now, I need some reassurance ad bakcground information here: Dawkins is the one using th term "Cultural relativism" confusingly, isn't he?<BR/><BR/>Greeting form Chile,Ramon Aguirre M.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676829.post-16596738225992686002007-08-08T20:51:00.000-04:002007-08-08T20:51:00.000-04:00Dawkins presumes that the people in the calabash society are stupid. That is not a good place to reason from.Joseph Duemerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07650314132179290321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8676829.post-87285461115500791552007-08-03T21:14:00.000-04:002007-08-03T21:14:00.000-04:00Oran - sorry for posting this here, please feel free to delete it, as unrelated to the post. I did make this request over on a thread you were involved with at Nisbett's site, but wanted to hedge my bet. I would really appreciate it, if you could click to my profile and email me. I can't find a contact for you and have a request.DuWayne Braytonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04074683871047219790noreply@blogger.com