oN BEinG the rIGht SiZe.

[Arising_uk]

oN BEinG the rIGht SiZe.
J.B.Haldane.

Had always heard about this book and had loved his answer when asked what, as a biologist, communist and atheist, he thought about God, replied "He has an inordinate fondness for beetles."

So far it is one of the most brilliant and interesting collection of short essays I've ever read.
a_uk
p.s.
the best 50p(approx 25 cents) I've spent in a charity shop.

[Richard Baron]

Yes, Haldane was a truly wonderful man, right up to the end:

http://nsm.uh.edu/~dgraur/Texts/Cancerhaldane.htm

He lost his Cambridge job for adultery (planned in order to get his lover a divorce). He appealed successfully against Cambridge's charge of gross moral turpitude, I think on the basis that while it was moral turpitude, it was not gross. But it was decided that the University could still dismiss for adultery.

I encourage all Americans visiting Britain to head for the shop where A_Uk bought the book, and change their money there at the very favourable rate of 50 pence = 25 cents.

[Arising_uk]

oops! $1

...He appealed successfully against Cambridge's charge of gross moral turpitude, I think on the basis that while it was moral turpitude, it was not gross.

LOL
Re: The link to his poem.

What a man.

[tbieter]

Yes,

Haldane was a truly wonderful man

"C. S. Lewis wrote much of his three interplanetary space novels, The Space Trilogy, in response to Haldane, whom Lewis found to be a very immoral man."

"He left the Party in 1950, shortly after having toyed with standing for Parliament as a Communist Party candidate. He would continue to admire Stalin, describing him in 1962: " a very great man who did a very good job."

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._B._S._Haldane

It amazes me that people still admire Communists, Communism, and their supporters like Haldane. To be consistent, they, like the 'skinheads' in Europe and North America, should also admire Hitler and Fascism because the beliefs and policies of both dictators led to similar body counts.

I contend that a person is responsible for the consequences of his beliefs. Haldane should be condemned relative to his support of Communism and admiration for Stalin.

[Arising_uk]

Given that Haldane fought with bravery in the first World War where his Socialism was formed, supported the Spanish Republic against the Fascists and ended his days in India writing in defence of Ghandi's position against the British Empire, I'd say we can forgive him his Marxist Idealism. Plus, at the time, evidence of Stalins repressions were not common knowledge, its easy to criticise in hindsight but I'd say his actions spoke as loud as his words.
With respect to C.S.Lewis. My only contact with him was as a youth through his science fiction and fantasy writings and in my opinion he was a patriarchal, misogynistic old git.
a_uk
p.s.
I'd also point out that the only reason why America came to our aid in WWII was that the Japanese invaded them(I do agree that tacit support was lent but the USA remained netural and many were in support of staying that way). Does this mean that all americans were fascist supporters? It should also be remembered that at the time the Russians were our allies and comrade Stalin was portrayed as our 'hero' on the Eastern Front.
p.p.s
Either way, the book is an excellent read.

[Richard Baron]

Hi Tom

You have a good point about Haldane and communism. I was too sweeping in my initial judgement. Like all of us, he had good and bad points.

Hi a_uk

I do not blame the USA for waiting until December 1941. A country is not obliged to join in other countries' wars, absent a treaty to that effect.

Stalin was of course on the other side from 1939 to 1941, a fact not often noted on Soviet war memorials.

[Arising_uk]

p.s.
I'd also note that in the Wikki link tbieter gave, it says;
"He then become an explicit critic of the Regime."
I also note that the quote tbieter gave had no context and could be interpreted as saying that Stalin did the job needed to beat the Nazis.

[Arising_uk]

Hi Richard,
Two good points,
On the first I'd say that they would have kept right on waiting if the Japanese had not attacked them. Lets remember that some of their capitalists were still happily trading with them even after Pearl harbour.
On the second, whilst a fact, why would they put that upon war memorials dedicated to the war against the Nazis?
a_uk

[questing vole]

Yes Haldane was remarkable - when asked what would make him doubt evolution he replied "...finding fossil Rabbits in the Cambrian".

[Rortabend]

I've just read Simon Winchester's book about Joseph Needham, another great early C20th Cambridge scientist who supported communism. It's called Bomb, Book and Compass if anyone is interested. Good read.

Is anyone aware of any biographies of Haldane?