Emile, do you mean that the Pinker and Harriss books are (1) recent examples of books with major flaws that any knowledgeable scholar would point out, or (2) recent examples of books for which it would be interesting to know whether they have such flaws? (If the former, then I’d be interested in a brief summary of the flaws and where to find evidence that they are real; for the avoidance of doubt, that isn’t code for “I think there are no such flaws”, and that isn’t code for “I think there are such flaws”.)
I meant (2) - I don’t know whether there are flaws, and want to find out; and more generally, I want to know whether the book is rehashing old ideas, or taking sides in an existing controversy, or presenting brand new ideas, or is considered as ramblings of a cranky outsider not worthy of attention, etc.
Emile, do you mean that the Pinker and Harriss books are (1) recent examples of books with major flaws that any knowledgeable scholar would point out, or (2) recent examples of books for which it would be interesting to know whether they have such flaws? (If the former, then I’d be interested in a brief summary of the flaws and where to find evidence that they are real; for the avoidance of doubt, that isn’t code for “I think there are no such flaws”, and that isn’t code for “I think there are such flaws”.)
I meant (2) - I don’t know whether there are flaws, and want to find out; and more generally, I want to know whether the book is rehashing old ideas, or taking sides in an existing controversy, or presenting brand new ideas, or is considered as ramblings of a cranky outsider not worthy of attention, etc.