I suggest there are 4 stages in the life-cycle of a didact:
(1) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents can be won over by rationality.
(2) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents can be won over by rationality and emotional reassurance.
(3) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents can be won over without rationality.
(4) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents do not need to be won over.
I am not suggesting that any stage is superior to any other.
Eliezer, I declare that you are currently at stage (2), commonly known as the “Dawkins phase”. :)
I suggest there are 4 stages in the life-cycle of a didact:
(1) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents can be won over by rationality. (2) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents can be won over by rationality and emotional reassurance. (3) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents can be won over without rationality. (4) The belief that one’s intellectual opponents do not need to be won over.
I am not suggesting that any stage is superior to any other.
Eliezer, I declare that you are currently at stage (2), commonly known as the “Dawkins phase”. :)