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| Science as a "Fiction"; Professor Michael Lackey | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 5 2008, 11:55 PM (572 Views) | |
| Post #1 Dec 5 2008, 11:55 PM | GreatApe |
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English professor, scholar and post-modern humanist Michael Lackey from the University of Minnesota--Morris has written an intriguing book entitled "African-American Atheists and Political Liberation" and, while I have only read excerpts from the book, he does talk very intelligently about Science, Postmodernism, and the Varieties of Black Humanism on a pointofinquiry.org podcast dated Friday, October 3, 2008. Because I'm an English major, a postmodernist and an atheist, and largely because I am working on a book which incorporates the study of literature and religious belief with postmodernism, atheism, and ideas of indoctrination, I'm extremely interested in Lackey's positions. In the podcast, Lackey posits that postmodernism -- because of its philosophical position that truth is a human "construct" -- views science as a "fiction." Now, he says that this idea is a rough "caricaturization" of postmodernism, and I agree with him because of the fact that there are varying degrees of postmodern thought and philosophy. His point is that science is a "fiction" in the sense that scientists are "artists" who have created this "unbelievably sophisticated method" (the Scientific Method) which allows us to make sense of the world in which we live. However, Lackey rejects the Correspondence Theory of Truth because he does not believe that it is a legitimate way of talking (communicating) due to the fact that ALL conceptual forms are human inventions and are, therefore, limited due to bias. In this sense, Lackey borrows from Nietzsche the claim that "truth is an illusion which we have forgotten is an illusion." Lackey then states that -- again in-line with Nietzsche -- truth is a "temporary conceptual formation" which WE NEED in order to make sense of our world, and this is where science steps in. However, Lackey also believes--fundamentally--that without humans, there is NO truth, and this idea sort of delves into the "if a tree falls in the forrest and no one is around, does it make a noise" argument, but I think his main points are extremely interesting and valid. He rejects nihilism outright, calling it "incoherent" -- an argument with which I also agree -- and he stresses that science (its arguments, theories and positions) should be, and ARE, subject to critique ad-infinitum. Before atheists roundly reject his statement that "Science is a fiction"...we need to understand that Lackey recognizes clear distinctions between what he calls "rational humanist systems" such as science, and systems such as religion (and the word "god" for example) which are "totally closed off" because if a person does not subscribe to the premises of a religious doctrine's belief system, then that system is calculated to block that person off. In closing, Lackey states a rejection of the Christian, religious, and the far left-wing postmodern nihilists' accusation that atheism is -- in itself -- a type of belief structure or "religion" because science is democratic and "predicated upon empirically verifiable methods." He also talks briefly (unfortunately it comes at the VERY end of the podcast, about Christianity and its rejection by "Black Liberation Atheism" because of its inherent racism toward African-Americans throughout American history. Anyway, I thought I would share this with people who are not familiar with Professor Lackey. His ideas are thought provoking adn I think he's extremely intelligen and accurate about what he believes, why he believes it and the way in which he believes it. For those of you who are interested in checking these ideas out, or who might be developing ideas of postmodernism, atheism, humanism, religious studies, or literature/multi-cultural literature, you can check out the following links: The Correspondence Theory of Truth Michael Lackey's Book Black Liberation Theology Point of Inquiry ENJOY! --GA Edited by GreatApe, Dec 6 2008, 12:07 AM.
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http://literaryhammer.blogspot.com http://themediahammer.blogspot.com Appraise the LORD!: Tax church property. Evolution IS Intelligent Design! | |
 
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| Post #2 Dec 6 2008, 03:47 AM | Bonzolee |
| Interesting stuff. I'd like to join in here, but I'm going to check out those links first. |
 
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"Brain disorders, like madness, are themselves contagious. The frequency of madness among doctors who are specialists for the mad is notorious." – Gustave Le Bon "The fact that audiences would rather go to Wonderland than face Iraq speaks volumes." – Random Youtube Poster | |
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| Post #3 Dec 6 2008, 09:11 AM | Huxley |
| I'm not sold on the idea that "truth" is but a mere human construct. I think we do ourselves justice when we realise truth despite it being unpopular and perhaps Brutish. There is an implication that truth is tidy and comfortable and I think we should take some pride in our ability to discern what is there and what is not. |
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| Post #4 Dec 6 2008, 06:46 PM | Joe E. Holman |
Now this is where things get uncomfortable for some. Truth doesn't exist as something separate from intelligence. A number, any number, like 5 does not exist, nor yet does math. Numbers are just thought systems by which we measure and compartmentalize the world. It takes intelligence to see them. The same with any thought construct. But that's not to give up on objective truth. Because all humans have an intellectual base, we can and do make sense when we call upon others to see a truth, not giving a damn whether they like it or not. |
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| Post #5 Dec 7 2008, 08:54 AM | Huxley |
| I know what you are saying but truth is just what we might apportion to an objective fact, we might say, it is true the galaxies are speeding away from each other at an increasing velocity. We now know that to be true (our construct) until it changes (which we also know will happen) In that way truth can be no more than an evident fact. |
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| Post #6 Feb 12 2009, 12:21 AM | Carmel1110 |
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"'Reality' is the only word in the English language that should always be used in quotes." ~Timothy Leary That quote pretty much sums up my entire philosophy of life! ...perhaps, the word "truth" should always be used in quotes, also... |
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| Post #7 Feb 12 2009, 11:45 PM | Bonzolee |
| Well said, Carmel. |
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"Brain disorders, like madness, are themselves contagious. The frequency of madness among doctors who are specialists for the mad is notorious." – Gustave Le Bon "The fact that audiences would rather go to Wonderland than face Iraq speaks volumes." – Random Youtube Poster | |
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4:46 PM Jul 31
