From: karen@smigrodzki.org
Date: Sun Jun 08 2003 - 22:34:04 MDT
[quote author=damienb@unimelb.edu.au
link=board=67;threadid=56100;start=#251231 date=1054827875]
At 02:10 AM 6/5/03 -0400, Karen wrote:
> I am surprised that I haven't seen anyone mention that Einstein
>believed in the existence of a god. He was purported to be a genius. "God
>does not play dice with the universe." Isn't it right to conclude that
>intelligent minds can differ on the issue of a deity?
Damien wrote:
Well, that's not the best quote to use; it's generally held that this was
Einstein's way of personifying the deep lawfulness of the world. On the
other hand, there's this from Abraham Pais's SUBTLE IS THE LORD... THE
SCIENCE AND THE LIFE OF ALBERT EINSTEIN:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Yes, I know it isn't the best quote. It was the only one I had
in my head at the time. It had to suffice. ;)
He was wrong about quantum theory, too.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^So I have read.
Damien wrote:
On the other hand, if you wish to adduce his genius in support of religion,
you're stuck with his support for socialism. See `Why Socialism?',
http://www.monthlyreview.org/598einst.htm
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Eek. No, it was not my desire to adduce his genius in support
of religion. It was my desire to allude to the deceptiveness of high IQ
scores. My point was that IQ tests are designed to test a person's likelihood
of success in society (something like that) and not to test what may be as (or
more) important mental abilities.
Damien wrote:
Life is so complicated. :)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Not for the simple-minded. ;) As far as Eintein's religious
^^^^^^^^^^^^^views, he said once that his view of god was very close to
^^^^^^^^^^^^^Spinoza's. Perhaps someone more well-read than I could tell me
^^^^^^^^^^^^^what that would mean.
karen
---- This message was posted by karen@smigrodzki.org to the Extropians 2003 board on ExI BBS. <http://www.extropy.org/bbs/index.php?board=67;action=display;threadid=56100>
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