The Big Thinkers

[alanjjohnstone]

The list of current influential thinkers  7,8,9 and 10…no idea about them in the slightest so their influence certainly passed me by. 

Prospect readers’ top 10

1. Thomas Piketty, French economist

2. Yanis Varoufakis, Greek finance minister

3. Naomi Klein, US author

4. Russell Brand, UK comedian and campaigner

5. Paul Krugman, US economist

6. Arundhati Roy, Indian writer and activist

7. Jurgen Habermas, German philosopher

8. Daniel Kahneman, US-Israeli psychologist

9. John Gray, UK philosopher

10. Atul Gawande, US surgeon and writer

Make of it as you will

[LBird]

alanjjohnstone wrote:

The list of current influential thinkers  7,8,9 and 10…no idea about them in the slightest so their influence certainly passed me by. Prospect readers’ top 10…7. Jurgen Habermas, German philosopher…

Although I haven't read anything by Habermas yet, he's on my 'to-do' list, because he's one the the philosophers who've apparently talked about the necessity for a link between democracy and science, I think.Not your favourite discussion, I know!

[Anonymous]

Democratic control of science and scientist ( Doctors, Brain Surgeons, researchers physicists  etc )? Or democratic control of 'truth'. There is a massive difference. Scientists are members of the working class under the control of capital, they will be under democratic control of the majority in socialism.The SPGB believes that socialism will mean the democratic control of science and research. Tere will be no 'elites' just people with different and varied interests and knowledge. You have still not answered the basic question. Is it because you don't have an answer?

[moderator1]

Reminder: 1. The general topic of each forum is given by the posted forum description. Do not start a thread in a forum unless it matches the given topic, and do not derail existing threads with off-topic posts.

[Anonymous]

LOl 

[LBird]

Vin wrote:

Democratic control of science and scientist ( Doctors, Brain Surgeons, researchers physicists  etc )? Or democratic control of 'truth'. There is a massive difference.

Yes, I know there is, Vin.That's why I keep answering 'both'. Science is a social activity and the production of truth is a social activity, and all social activity must be under the control of society, not an 'expert elite', who thus can retain power and authority over the rest of us.

Vin wrote:

You have still not answered the basic question. Is it because you don't have an answer?

I keep giving you an answer, Vin, but you don't like it. 'Truth' is a social product, with a history. It is not a 'reflection' of 'reality' or a 'copy' of 'nature'. 'Truth' changes with societies, over time. Bourgeois scientists claim to have a 'neutral method', to be used by a 'special elite', which gives them access to a 'Truth' that is not available to all of society, and so can't be 'voted' upon, by a necessarily ignorant majority.If you disagree, we can discuss it, on the 'Science for Communists?' thread, rather than here.Apologies to mod.First warning: 1. The general topic of each forum is given by the posted forum description. Do not start a thread in a forum unless it matches the given topic, and do not derail existing threads with off-topic posts.

[Anonymous]

LBird wrote:

I keep giving you an answer, Vin, but you don't like it. 'Truth' is a social product, with a history. It is not a 'reflection' of 'reality' or a 'copy' of 'nature'. 'Truth' changes with societies, over time. Bourgeois scientists claim to have a 'neutral method', to be used by a 'special elite', which gives them access to a 'Truth' that is not available to all of society, and so can't be 'voted' upon, by a necessarily ignorant majority.If you disagree, we can discuss it, on the 'Science for Communists?' thread, rather than here.Apologies to mod.

 So you believe that we in the SPGB do not believe that truth is a social product? I am a materialist ALL ideas are a social product. You say nothing new. You set up strawmenn and you still haven't answeredd the big question?  Apologies to mod First warning: 1. The general topic of each forum is given by the posted forum description. Do not start a thread in a forum unless it matches the given topic, and do not derail existing threads with off-topic posts.

[Capitalist Pig]

Russell Brand!!!! hahahahahahaha

[Anonymous]

Capitalist Pig wrote:

Russell Brand!!!! hahahahahahaha

 Have you read Russell Brand's book? 

[Author]

Posts