It is time we had an interdisciplinary world. It is time we created a society where all levels of thinking and society can work together – so the individual psychologies can live together in a more
integrated society. Interdisciplinary thinking tries to promote environmentalism, capitalism, religion, heroic
individualism, and families simultaneously. Beauty, truth, and ethics are united.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Poll
Who is the world's greatest contemporary thinker? Why?
Since the question does apparently need to have some name mentioned to get the ball rolling, here it is . . . Frederick Turner. Brilliant interdisciplinary scholar, philosopher, and poet.
I agree. I find it hard to get people into F.T.'s stuff, though. The leftists say he sets up straw men to knock them down. The scientists say he's too "new age." Other people say his stuff is too dense, or repetitive, or they complain that his books aren't footnoted. I'm always like, "Really? How is this not the coolest stuff you've ever seen?"
I'd also mention E.O. Wilson, although I don't agree with absolutely everything he says. He's an original thinker, a serious scientist, he's got a good heart, and he remained admirably cool and levelheaded through that whole sociobiology controversy.
That's a tough question to answer. It's like when someone asks, "Who's your favorite band?" I'd almost be embarrassed to name anyone living.
ReplyDeleteWho do you think?
I definitely have someone in mind, but I wanted to see what others thought first.
ReplyDeleteWhy wait?
ReplyDeleteSince the question does apparently need to have some name mentioned to get the ball rolling, here it is . . . Frederick Turner. Brilliant interdisciplinary scholar, philosopher, and poet.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I find it hard to get people into F.T.'s stuff, though. The leftists say he sets up straw men to knock them down. The scientists say he's too "new age." Other people say his stuff is too dense, or repetitive, or they complain that his books aren't footnoted. I'm always like, "Really? How is this not the coolest stuff you've ever seen?"
ReplyDeleteI'd also mention E.O. Wilson, although I don't agree with absolutely everything he says. He's an original thinker, a serious scientist, he's got a good heart, and he remained admirably cool and levelheaded through that whole sociobiology controversy.
Yeah, Fred's had that trouble himself. I'd also nominate Steven Pinker and Stuart Kauffman.
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with Pinker. Kauffman I don't know much about.
ReplyDeleteKauffman's a systems biologist. His most recent book is "Reinventing the Sacred"
ReplyDeleteEliezer Yudkowsky.
ReplyDelete