Comments on: Piling on Lakoff http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/ The Sweet Release of Reason Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:11:50 +0000 hourly 1 By: stuart http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9132 stuart Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:17:44 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9132 Sorry. I didn't know Chris commented here. I got the impression that his political views had something to do with your dislike for him. I don't think Pinker's politics are clear from his books. I always figured he was a democrat who actually took libertarianism seriously, rather than just denouncing it. Not that I normally think of libertarians as right wing (economically yes, otherwise no) Sorry. I didn’t know Chris commented here. I got the impression that his political views had something to do with your dislike for him.

I don’t think Pinker’s politics are clear from his books. I always figured he was a democrat who actually took libertarianism seriously, rather than just denouncing it.

Not that I normally think of libertarians as right wing (economically yes, otherwise no)

]]> By: stuart http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9144 stuart Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:17:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9144 Sorry. I didn't know Chris commented here. I got the impression that his political views had something to do with your dislike for him. I don't think Pinker's politics are clear from his books. I always figured he was a democrat who actually took libertarianism seriously, rather than just denouncing it. Not that I normally think of libertarians as right wing (economically yes, otherwise no) Sorry. I didn’t know Chris commented here. I got the impression that his political views had something to do with your dislike for him.

I don’t think Pinker’s politics are clear from his books. I always figured he was a democrat who actually took libertarianism seriously, rather than just denouncing it.

Not that I normally think of libertarians as right wing (economically yes, otherwise no)

]]> By: Chris http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9131 Chris Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:14:43 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9131 p.s., the reason I made a big deal out of disliking Pinker is to stress the fact that I wasn't disagreeing with Lakoff just because I dislike him (it's widely known among the people who read the blog that I dislike him). I wanted to make it clear that I disliked both the participants (professionally, not personally, though in my one meeting with Lakoff, he was an ass -- Mark Johnson, his partner in crime, is a really nice guy, though), and so the only reason I had for siding with one was because he was right, and the other was wrong. Sometimes that's not clear to everyone, in the blogworld. p.s., the reason I made a big deal out of disliking Pinker is to stress the fact that I wasn’t disagreeing with Lakoff just because I dislike him (it’s widely known among the people who read the blog that I dislike him). I wanted to make it clear that I disliked both the participants (professionally, not personally, though in my one meeting with Lakoff, he was an ass — Mark Johnson, his partner in crime, is a really nice guy, though), and so the only reason I had for siding with one was because he was right, and the other was wrong. Sometimes that’s not clear to everyone, in the blogworld.

]]> By: Chris http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9143 Chris Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:14:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9143 p.s., the reason I made a big deal out of disliking Pinker is to stress the fact that I wasn't disagreeing with Lakoff just because I dislike him (it's widely known among the people who read the blog that I dislike him). I wanted to make it clear that I disliked both the participants (professionally, not personally, though in my one meeting with Lakoff, he was an ass -- Mark Johnson, his partner in crime, is a really nice guy, though), and so the only reason I had for siding with one was because he was right, and the other was wrong. Sometimes that's not clear to everyone, in the blogworld. p.s., the reason I made a big deal out of disliking Pinker is to stress the fact that I wasn’t disagreeing with Lakoff just because I dislike him (it’s widely known among the people who read the blog that I dislike him). I wanted to make it clear that I disliked both the participants (professionally, not personally, though in my one meeting with Lakoff, he was an ass — Mark Johnson, his partner in crime, is a really nice guy, though), and so the only reason I had for siding with one was because he was right, and the other was wrong. Sometimes that’s not clear to everyone, in the blogworld.

]]> By: Chris http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9130 Chris Mon, 09 Oct 2006 22:30:25 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9130 I hate you! I hate you all! OK, just kidding. No, I don't hate Will at all, and I read his blog regularly. Not being one of those people who likes to read things just to get all riled up, my reading it must mean that I find something interesting and/or insightful in it. It's true that he and I are probably pretty far apart politically (just as Razib and I are), but I don't see any reason to hate someone just because they differ politically. Now, I do not like Pinker's work (I've only met him a couple times in person, and so I couldn't say what I think of him personally), but it's not really because of his politics. I've got cog sci friends who are libertarians and republicans, and I like them just fine. I dislike his work because I think that he, like Lakoff, has a nasty habit of misrepresenting the state of research and debate on cognitive science, particularly when it comes to his adaptationism (which is, it should always be noted, <i>not</i> the mainstream view in cognitive science). I hate you! I hate you all!

OK, just kidding. No, I don’t hate Will at all, and I read his blog regularly. Not being one of those people who likes to read things just to get all riled up, my reading it must mean that I find something interesting and/or insightful in it. It’s true that he and I are probably pretty far apart politically (just as Razib and I are), but I don’t see any reason to hate someone just because they differ politically.

Now, I do not like Pinker’s work (I’ve only met him a couple times in person, and so I couldn’t say what I think of him personally), but it’s not really because of his politics. I’ve got cog sci friends who are libertarians and republicans, and I like them just fine. I dislike his work because I think that he, like Lakoff, has a nasty habit of misrepresenting the state of research and debate on cognitive science, particularly when it comes to his adaptationism (which is, it should always be noted, not the mainstream view in cognitive science).

]]> By: Chris http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9142 Chris Mon, 09 Oct 2006 22:30:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9142 I hate you! I hate you all! OK, just kidding. No, I don't hate Will at all, and I read his blog regularly. Not being one of those people who likes to read things just to get all riled up, my reading it must mean that I find something interesting and/or insightful in it. It's true that he and I are probably pretty far apart politically (just as Razib and I are), but I don't see any reason to hate someone just because they differ politically. Now, I do not like Pinker's work (I've only met him a couple times in person, and so I couldn't say what I think of him personally), but it's not really because of his politics. I've got cog sci friends who are libertarians and republicans, and I like them just fine. I dislike his work because I think that he, like Lakoff, has a nasty habit of misrepresenting the state of research and debate on cognitive science, particularly when it comes to his adaptationism (which is, it should always be noted, <i>not</i> the mainstream view in cognitive science). I hate you! I hate you all!

OK, just kidding. No, I don’t hate Will at all, and I read his blog regularly. Not being one of those people who likes to read things just to get all riled up, my reading it must mean that I find something interesting and/or insightful in it. It’s true that he and I are probably pretty far apart politically (just as Razib and I are), but I don’t see any reason to hate someone just because they differ politically.

Now, I do not like Pinker’s work (I’ve only met him a couple times in person, and so I couldn’t say what I think of him personally), but it’s not really because of his politics. I’ve got cog sci friends who are libertarians and republicans, and I like them just fine. I dislike his work because I think that he, like Lakoff, has a nasty habit of misrepresenting the state of research and debate on cognitive science, particularly when it comes to his adaptationism (which is, it should always be noted, not the mainstream view in cognitive science).

]]> By: razib http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9129 razib Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:39:37 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9129 cosmides & tooby are right-libertarians, that i know. i have already sent off the email. i'll email you when/if i get an intelligible response. cosmides & tooby are right-libertarians, that i know. i have already sent off the email. i’ll email you when/if i get an intelligible response.

]]> By: razib http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9141 razib Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:39:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9141 cosmides & tooby are right-libertarians, that i know. i have already sent off the email. i'll email you when/if i get an intelligible response. cosmides & tooby are right-libertarians, that i know. i have already sent off the email. i’ll email you when/if i get an intelligible response.

]]> By: Will Wilkinson http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9128 Will Wilkinson Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:15:11 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9128 Well, had I not lived about anywhere other than DC, which trends so heavily Democratic that election results are a foregone conclusion, I would have voted for Kerry. Since voting for Kerry in DC wouldn't help Bush lose, I voted for Badnarik instead, with a sense of ironic protest. I had always been under the impression that Pinker is fairly libertarian. So please do ask your Pinker connections. I'm interested in what they say. Well, had I not lived about anywhere other than DC, which trends so heavily Democratic that election results are a foregone conclusion, I would have voted for Kerry. Since voting for Kerry in DC wouldn’t help Bush lose, I voted for Badnarik instead, with a sense of ironic protest. I had always been under the impression that Pinker is fairly libertarian. So please do ask your Pinker connections. I’m interested in what they say.

]]> By: Will Wilkinson http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9140 Will Wilkinson Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:15:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2006/10/08/piling-on-lakoff/#comment-9140 Well, had I not lived about anywhere other than DC, which trends so heavily Democratic that election results are a foregone conclusion, I would have voted for Kerry. Since voting for Kerry in DC wouldn't help Bush lose, I voted for Badnarik instead, with a sense of ironic protest. I had always been under the impression that Pinker is fairly libertarian. So please do ask your Pinker connections. I'm interested in what they say. Well, had I not lived about anywhere other than DC, which trends so heavily Democratic that election results are a foregone conclusion, I would have voted for Kerry. Since voting for Kerry in DC wouldn’t help Bush lose, I voted for Badnarik instead, with a sense of ironic protest. I had always been under the impression that Pinker is fairly libertarian. So please do ask your Pinker connections. I’m interested in what they say.

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