Philosophy Now Forum

I have wondered before what the two of them would say to each other in a debate given what overlap exists between their concerns, Sam Harris' condemnation of Islamic terrorism versus Chomsky's often vocal condemnation of state sponsored terrorism.

I suppose my curiosity has been somewhat fulfilled by this exchange between them, published on Sam Harris' website.

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the- ... -discourse

Here's a quick video from Cenk Uygur, commenting on the exchange.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkBRVRBhSso

There's also a commentary on it at Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/2015/05/07/scoring ... e_atheist/

Woops, hit quote instead of edit.

Gary Childress wrote:I have wondered before what the two of them would say to each other in a debate given what overlap exists between their concerns, Sam Harris' condemnation of Islamic terrorism versus Chomsky's often vocal condemnation of state sponsored terrorism.

I suppose my curiosity has been somewhat fulfilled by this exchange between them, published on Sam Harris' website.

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the- ... -discourse

Here's a quick video from Cenk Uygur, commenting on the exchange.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkBRVRBhSso

There's also a commentary on it at Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/2015/05/07/scoring ... e_atheist/

Chomsky is a mendacious piece of shit. Get this off of here!

I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

Nicely put.

Melchior wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:I have wondered before what the two of them would say to each other in a debate given what overlap exists between their concerns, Sam Harris' condemnation of Islamic terrorism versus Chomsky's often vocal condemnation of state sponsored terrorism.

I suppose my curiosity has been somewhat fulfilled by this exchange between them, published on Sam Harris' website.

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/the- ... -discourse

Here's a quick video from Cenk Uygur, commenting on the exchange.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkBRVRBhSso

There's also a commentary on it at Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/2015/05/07/scoring ... e_atheist/

Chomsky is a mendacious piece of shit. Get this off of here!

So you say, yet he's a lot smarter than you are. Is that what it is, your envy?

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

Trust me, you'd love him. I've recently had the privilege of watching a video on-line where he speaks his mind. He's my kind of guy, and proof that some Americans are just as different as other individuals anywhere else in the world, that are not afraid to take the bull of deceit by the horns, holding them accountable for it.

SpheresOfBalance wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

Trust me, you'd love him. I've recently had the privilege of watching a video on-line where he speaks his mind. He's my kind of guy, and proof that some Americans are just as different as other individuals anywhere else in the world, that are not afraid to take the bull of deceit by the horns, holding them accountable for it.

Yes, from what I've seen of him he seems like a gentle and reasonable person--probably why he's so hated.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:

SpheresOfBalance wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

Trust me, you'd love him. I've recently had the privilege of watching a video on-line where he speaks his mind. He's my kind of guy, and proof that some Americans are just as different as other individuals anywhere else in the world, that are not afraid to take the bull of deceit by the horns, holding them accountable for it.

Yes, from what I've seen of him he seems like a gentle and reasonable person--probably why he's so hated.

And thus equally loved by others.

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

What kind of reasoning is that?

Obvious Leo wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

Nicely put.

Goofy-ass peas in a pod.

bobevenson wrote:

Obvious Leo wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

Nicely put.

Goofy-ass peas in a pod.

Hah! Thanks bob. I knew you would show up to prove my point.

Melchior wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

What kind of reasoning is that?

This is a highly intuitive expression of simple logic which has a long and illustrious pedigree. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is a principle which dates back at least to the Sanskrit texts of the 4th century BC and it is also referred to in the teachings of Lao Tzu. It has underpinned military philosophy since the dawn of human conflict and its impact on 20th century geo-political thought is unimpeachable. However it is a principle which can come back to bite its adherents on the arse from time to time, as the US is now discovering to its cost. Providing financial and military support to such tyrants as Augusto Pinochet, Manuel Noriega, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden has now shown itself to be an unwise short-term strategy with disastrous long-term consequences. However to the ordinary Joe living an ordinary middle class existence "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" remains a very useful and pragmatic rule of thumb.

Obvious Leo wrote:

Melchior wrote:

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:I don't know much about Chomsky, but I do know that American right-wing, warmongering, fascist shit-heads hate him, so he must have something going for him.

What kind of reasoning is that?

This is a highly intuitive expression of simple logic which has a long and illustrious pedigree. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend" is a principle which dates back at least to the Sanskrit texts of the 4th century BC and it is also referred to in the teachings of Lao Tzu. It has underpinned military philosophy since the dawn of human conflict and its impact on 20th century geo-political thought is unimpeachable. However it is a principle which can come back to bite its adherents on the arse from time to time, as the US is now discovering to its cost. Providing financial and military support to such tyrants as Augusto Pinochet, Manuel Noriega, Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden has now shown itself to be an unwise short-term strategy with disastrous long-term consequences. However to the ordinary Joe living an ordinary middle class existence "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" remains a very useful and pragmatic rule of thumb.

Beautiful.