The Death of Rational Thought
September 20, 2006

The Pope recently spoke in Germany to illustrate the folly of violence in furthering religious belief. In so doing, he referenced a 14th century emperor and his belief that Mohammed promoted Islam by the sword.

The reaction from the Muslim world was swift and brutal. Jihadists called for the murder of the Pope. Churches burned and a nun was killed while praying at an altar. Riots took place from Istanbul to Jakarta.

Simple rationality would assert that disproving violent tendencies with violence is patently idiotic. And yet, tensions are so high that many feel the West must appease. A brilliant and succinct analysis is here.

It’s easy to draw a parallel to the Danish cartoons of Mohammed published last spring and the resulting violence. Many have done this.

We have a different take here at PurpleThink. Larry Summers, Dean of Harvard gave a speech that attempted to address why females are less successful than males in science and mathematics. The speech argued that we must study whether or not men and women are hard-wired differently so as to be pre-disposed for their success in science and mathematics.

The outrage was front-page news for weeks. Women’s groups and political hacks roasted Summers and called for his head.

While it is unfair to equate Islamic violence to this case, they have many of the same characteristics:

1) A group, claiming persecution, decries the ignorance of a speech-giver.
2) Media excerpts controversial remarks out of context.
3) Apologies are demanded.
4) Once received, the apologies are rejected.
5) No attempt is made to rationally examine the intended message.

Conservatives do it when they question the patriotism of those against the Iraq war. Liberals do it when they question the morality of those that favor across-the-board tax cuts.

In America, we’ve become comfortable with the assertion that emotional pleas are in themselves rational thought -- deserving of our respect.

Religion, morality, patriotism – they all appeal to emotion. And, more importantly, they appeal to the emotion of easily defined groups of people – Muslims, women, Americans, the poor.

This is often harmless philosophical banter -- until, of course, some group decides their emotional outrage is justification enough to kill everyone that disagrees with them.

To become intellectually lazy is to fidddle while Rome burns.

|

 

Home|epinion|Purple People Eater

Feedback@PurpleThink.com

©2006 PurpleThink.com