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progress:
(page 0 of 96)
"Harris says that the historical roots of Nazism and the holocaust were Christian and therefore that religion is at least partly to blame for the holocaust (although it was also rooted in social Darwinist ideas). If this mode of argument is legitimate, how does he respond to Christians who say that modern secular ethics grew, and could only have grown, from the fertile soil of Christian civilisation? What's his point?" — Jun 07, 2026 03:56PM
"Harris says that the historical roots of Nazism and the holocaust were Christian and therefore that religion is at least partly to blame for the holocaust (although it was also rooted in social Darwinist ideas). If this mode of argument is legitimate, how does he respond to Christians who say that modern secular ethics grew, and could only have grown, from the fertile soil of Christian civilisation? What's his point?" — Jun 07, 2026 03:56PM
Ben
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progress:
(page 0 of 111)
"Wilson says that Darwinism lead inevitably to the Jewish holocaust in WWII. He cites one book that argues that the holocaust wouldn't have happened, or wouldn't have been as bad, if Darwinism were not ascendent. But I'm unsure what the point of this argument is. Was the holocaust not received with horror of historical proportions? Is it not regarded, even by secularists, as one of humankind's worst crimes?" — Jun 06, 2026 08:01PM
"Wilson says that Darwinism lead inevitably to the Jewish holocaust in WWII. He cites one book that argues that the holocaust wouldn't have happened, or wouldn't have been as bad, if Darwinism were not ascendent. But I'm unsure what the point of this argument is. Was the holocaust not received with horror of historical proportions? Is it not regarded, even by secularists, as one of humankind's worst crimes?" — Jun 06, 2026 08:01PM
“If sleep represents the high point of bodily relaxation, deep boredom is the peak of mental relaxation. A purely hectic rush produces nothing new. It reproduces and accelerates what is already available.”
― The Burnout Society
― The Burnout Society
“Nobody ever figures out what life is all about, and it doesn't matter. Explore the world. Nearly everything is really interesting if you go into it deeply enough.”
―
―
“John [McCarthy]'s world is a world of ideas, a world in which ideas don't belong to anyone, and in which, when an idea is wrong, just the idea – not the person – is wrong. A world in which ideas are like young birds, and we catch them and proudly show them to our friends. The bird's beauty and the hunter's are distinct...
Some people won't show you the birds they've caught until they are sure, certain, positive that they – the birds, or themselves – are gorgeous, or rare, or remarkable. When your mind can separate yourself from it, you will share it sooner, and the beauty of the bird will be sooner enjoyed.”
―
Some people won't show you the birds they've caught until they are sure, certain, positive that they – the birds, or themselves – are gorgeous, or rare, or remarkable. When your mind can separate yourself from it, you will share it sooner, and the beauty of the bird will be sooner enjoyed.”
―
“A man’s health can be judged by which he takes two at a time—pills or stairs. —Joan Welsh”
― The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy
― The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy
Effective Altruists
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— last activity Apr 22, 2026 02:40PM
Recommend books, see what other people are reading, start a discussion, what have you. N.B. This group is not actively moderated and doesn't have any ...more
Ben’s 2025 Year in Books
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