tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post110720255133067903..comments2023-12-17T19:35:07.459-08:00Comments on Bouphonia: The Cornucopian FallacyPhilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1139528975093846262006-02-09T15:49:00.000-08:002006-02-09T15:49:00.000-08:00But subtracting Easterbrook's obvious foolish poin...<I> But subtracting Easterbrook's obvious foolish points, that's the charge he's making against Diamond. Is it possibly a legitimate one?</I><BR/><BR/>I'm not sure that subtracting foolishness is a courtesy Easterbrook's owed, or what would be left if one did. Given that he's simply opposing Diamond's alleged overreaching with demonstrable overreaching of his own, I don't see any reason to take him or his criticism seriously. And while the outer space stuff may not be his central argument, he doesn't do much better elsewhere (cf. the part about forests).Philahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1107237032669870712005-01-31T21:50:00.000-08:002005-01-31T21:50:00.000-08:00I took on Easterbrooks article at my blog from the...I took on Easterbrooks article at my blog from the perspective of energy (Which pertains to Collapse - and us - because energy for us is agriculture. Oil is food.)<br /><br />After reading your post, you convinced me I'd been way too nice to him.<br /><br />And Thersites - yup, and it looks like David Brooks is going to head up into the role of "Head Tool" now that Safire has retired.JMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199754488740884930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1107222991479520312005-01-31T17:56:00.000-08:002005-01-31T17:56:00.000-08:00Gregg Easterbrook: the extra "g" is for "git."
Hi...Gregg Easterbrook: the extra "g" is for "git."<br /><br />Him and David Brooks, two lightweight bouys afloat on an ocean of stupid.Thershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14072224569922847217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1107218805601573532005-01-31T16:46:00.000-08:002005-01-31T16:46:00.000-08:00DPR,
I don't really know anything about Jared Di...DPR, <br /><br />I don't really know anything about Jared Diamond. I've been seeing "G G and S" everywhere for years, but have never so much as peeked inside it. But obviously, no matter what his books say, Easterbrook's critical approach to them is completely corrupt and stupid.<br /><br />Diamond could be wrong about <I>everything</I>, for all I know...but I suspect that if he were, Easterbrook wouldn't have been emotionally compelled to make such a crazy, illogical argument against them (e.g., "I can imagine humans moving to another planet, therefore Diamond's arguments aren't compelling").<br /><br />I tried to keep the tone of this post amusing, but I'm actually really, REALLY horrified that Easterbrook has a job, let alone an audience. A country in which this sort of babbling passes for informed opinion is in serious trouble.<br /><br />As for the optimism stuff, I agree...it's very hard. On the other hand, it's <I>supposed</I> to be. The GOP has decided that optimism, like religion, is supposed to be rigid and reflexive and uncritical; to them, it's just another club with which to beat their enemies.<br /><br />The real thing, needless to say, is a lot more rare and a lot more valuable.Philahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849261651028725772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695598.post-1107213487407646822005-01-31T15:18:00.000-08:002005-01-31T15:18:00.000-08:00i'm reading diamond's "guns, germs, and steel." ex...i'm reading diamond's "guns, germs, and steel." exhaustively comprehensive and very well written. maybe eastertbrook needs to hear steve forbert's song "good planets are hard to find"<br /><br />lyrics at http://tinyurl.com/3ukwx<br /><br />you're way better at good news friday than i am. i'll try harder.<br /><br />dread pirate robertsrobin andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13390482190562312928noreply@blogger.com