Isaac Asimov, on anti-intellectualism.

[Blue-Jay]

I just figured I'd drop this here:

"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." - Isaac Asimov

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Anything in particular that this is a response to?

[Blue-Jay]

2. I'm not sure what Asimov was responding to at the time.

I suppose I could look it up.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. I mean in your choice to post it.

Not that I think you didn't already know that.

[Blue-Jay]

8. Yeah. I knew what you were probably asking.

Honestly, I just ran across the quote earlier, and thought I'd post it here. It reminds me of the republicans who try to foster distrust in them fancy-pants college-educated libruls.

[tilsammans]

11. A very timely quote!

Thank you for posting it. :yourock:

[applegrove]

18. Yes thank you for posting.

[Obamaknowzz]

9. "Not that I think you didn't....."

:eyes:

[Archae]

5. Here's the full quote, and source:

There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there always has been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that "my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
Isaac Asimov, column in Newsweek (21 January 1980)

[Archae]

3. If you can find it, read his "The Cult Of Ignorance."

It was written more than 50 years ago, but is still valid.

[Richardo]

6. Thank you, Blue-Jay

:patriot:

[Ozymanithrax]

7. Asimov was one of that Century's greats.

[Blue-Jay]

13. I remember reading an old book of his called "Science Past, Science Future"

A really good read. I remember in the intro to one of the chapters, he recalled being asked how he would redesign a woman, if given the chance. He replied "What? Like putting the breasts in back, so that they'd be more fun to dance with?" (quoting from memory, so that's probably not exact)

[gmoney]

17. Reminds me of the old joke about the engineers sitting around pondering...

Four engineers were sitting around talking, and one of them pipes up and says "You know, I think God must be a mechanical engineer. The structure of the skeleton, the weight/strength ratio of bones, the built-in shock absorbers in the joints. Clearly the work of a mechanical engineeer."

The second one says "well, it's impressive, but it nothing compared to the chemical processes of the body, taking in all sorts of random food and converting it into bones, muscle, tissue, blood, and energy to make everything move. Obviously, God is a chemical engineer."

The third one says "but none of that works without the most impressive electrical system ever designed -- the brain and the central nervous system. It's more powerful than any computer, and the electrical impulses that control even the most delicate operations like brain surgery or playing a violin. It's all done with electricity, so God must be an electrical engineer."

The fourth one has had his arms crossed defiantly and says "You're all wrong. God is a civil engineer and I can prove it. Look at the genitals... who else but a civil engineer would put a recreational center so close to a sewage plant?"

[Echo In Light]

10. Harlan Ellison: "we've always been a fiercely anti-intellectual nation"

[Archae]

12. Ellison on Limbaugh:

Rush Limbaugh's brain has turned to bat guano." -Sci-Fi Buzz, Sci-Fi Channel

:D

[Blue-Jay]

15. He also called Limbaugh "a pustulant sack of monkey nuts"

If I remember the quote correctly. :rofl:

[SpiralHawk]

14. "My ignorance is just as good as your knowledge." - RepubliBagger Motto

Alas for America.

[Martin Eden]

16. Populism of Ignorance = Sarah Palin

Ignorant people mistrust politicians smarter than them.

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. I wish Palin would follow Asniov's rules for Robots

“
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

A robot must obey any orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.