Sam Harris Part II, Bristol Ideas Fest: Pre-talk thoughts
Back on the M1 again driving down to Bristol.
I really enjoyed last nights chat between Harris & Dawkins. There wasn’t too much in the way of new material, but it was still great to see the ideas of TML being articulated to a UK audience.
Tonight should be different though, as far as I’m aware this is an hours lecture from Sam alone. This will hopefully be in the vein of the google author talk he did last year. The extra time given in this format helps get into some of the details that can preempt some of objections that occur in the Q&A.
I’ve been thinking more and more about the potential limits of reason and it’s application in the discourse of religion. Does Sam sees any practical use for reason in conversation with people who hold a faith inspired world view.
I suppose I would want to know that if given sufficient time, and baring in mind that despite protestations to the contrary people aren’t reasoned into faith, could he, Harris, reason William Lane Craig out of his belief in say, the miracles of Jesus.
Cant decide how to word it, we’ll see how it goes.
dB
Initial post-talk thoughts: Harris & Dawkins Oxford
Just got home after 3.5 hour drive , so just some quick note taking before I pass out. I may flesh this out tomorrow on the way down to Bristol.
* Overall, Sam was as lucid as ever. Great to see in person
* 20 mins of Sam peddling TML with the usual talk, however each time I hear it he has adjusted things slightly, giving emphasis to different chapters of the book.
*I feel like I’m 80% with him. There are a number of things I have issues with, but as I think about the concept more and more, and source the end notes of the book, the clearer what he is saying becomes. I want to get to the end of the week of talks, re-read the Russell Blackford essay on TML, and then properly write out my thoughts as they currently stand.
* 30 mins of Dawkins probing Sam on potential issues people may take with the books central claims. Also added his own qualms, which seemed developed and genuine. This was the highlight of the evening, as it gave Sam room to manoeuvre around the topic loosely. I find he speaks just as succinctly and poignantly off the cuff as he does with his prepared speeches. I do feel this section could have been even better though. I would have liked to have seen more of a disagreement between the two of them on “ought/is” distinction amongst other things. A genuine back and forth dialogue would have been even better I think. But its not like I’m really complaining, if I’m going to sit through anyone probing/interviewing Harris on his book then its gonna be Richard! Strangely Dawkins started out by reading a few paragraphs from the rather large section in the book where Harris goes off at length re: Francis Collins debacle. Whilst I agree entirely with what Sam has to say, that section simply goes on disproportionately too long for the significance it has on the premise
* Q&A: Without wishing to offend anyone, the questions were pretty poor. I understand that it’s not easy to quickly articulate a question at the microphone, and I don’t really believe I would have necessarily asked anything better, however most of the questions seemed to come out as statements or opinions. “I agree with you but…” The questioner would then wait for Sam to try and explain why he disagreed with their opinion. What this really amounted to was a sort of “bet you haven’t thought of this”. In almost every case, he had thought of that and had even referred to it in his opening remarks. This was the only time Sam seemed ro ramble, and appear slightly lost. For several questions he ended up responding vaguely to the given opinion, then referring back to his earlier introduction. This could appear like a weakness in his argument, maybe it is and perhaps I’m doing people a disservice, maybe when I see the DVD it will seem different again. Or maybe it’s a hard thing to do, get out a question on this tricky subject, and maybe people just haven’t yet read the book and were solely going by what they had heard tonight or from YouTube. :/
* After the Q&A there was a book signing. I got TML and EOF signed. I’m saving LTACN for tomorrow when Sarah will be with me and we can get a cheeky picture taken.
* Speaking of pictures sorry for the appalling shot. I was a good boy and didn’t take my 550d in to the theatre thinking it wouldn’t be allowed. Well turns out it was, and so all I could manage was this from the iPhone. Tomorrow I shall take in the dslr for better pics 
One final note, Oxford is gorgeous. A little strange as it seems it is entirely a littlebig student world unlike anything I have ever seen! The Sheldonian theatre was smaller than I was expecting and a great intimate venue for the event.
Right I’m battered, g’night. See you all tomorrow.
dB
In another universe…
I am certain I never fall in love with music, I am far more intelligent than this present corporal organ will allow, I study a serious subject, and I am now wandering around the sunny streets of Oxford being paid to think about…you know…big shit… n stuff.
For now though, in this universe I will have to make do with living vicariously through intellects far greater than mine.
A Week of Sam Harris
I’ve been a big admirer of Sam Harris in recent years. His ideas can at times be controversial to both theist and atheist alike, yet he always remains lucid, calm and a strong advocate of rational thought.
Having watched a lot of debates and talks online over the years I’m finally going to get to hear him speak in person as he’s going to be in the UK promoting his recent book “The Moral Landscape”.
The real exciting thing is that his string of talks coincides with an easy week off work, and so I’m going round the UK to see all but one of them!
Tuesday it’s a double whammy of awesomeness as he discusses with Richard Dawkins on the same stage the topic, “Who say’s science has nothing to do with morality?“, for this one I’m driving down to Oxford alone (get it touch if you fancy meeting up).
Wednesday Sarah and I are driving down to Bristol Festival of Ideas for a stand alone talk by Sam on TML book itself, hopefully staying over to enjoy the town the following day.
Finally, on Saturday with Sarah and her father, it’s over to Cambridge for the WordFest. Here Sam will be in discussion with Ian McEwan, presumably along the same lines as the Dawkins event.
A rather pleasant week of rational thought and ideas, hopefully the weather wont turn too much.
I’ve read “The Moral Landscape” once through fully and am about halfway through my second reading in preparation for the talks. I’m also reading some of the heavy criticism it received as well as positive views of it to try and wrap my head around the issues in greater detail and form
Hopefully I’ll have my laptop with me and blog about it whilst I’m out and about. I know that the Dawkins discussion has definitely sold out but if anyone’s going and wants to meet up before/after for drink and talks get in touch. The other events may still have tickets available, check the links above.
dB
Thoughts on Henry Cavill as Superman
It’s a pretty exciting time to be a Superman fan! After the lukewarm reception of Superman Returns in ’06 I thought it would be quite some time before Kal-El would be back on the big sreen. So I found myself feeling equal parts elation and nervous anticipation when it was announced that Christopher Nolan would be over seeing a Zach Snyder directed reboot. Snyder is visually ambitious, faithful to the source material, but ultimtley very hit and miss! However Christopher Nolan has made two of my favourite films of all time.
Whether this new Superman means rebooting sans origin story or not remains to be seen, however there are some rumours that any origin segment will focus on the missing 12 years between finding the fortress of solitude and emerging as Superman in Metropolis, a la Superman Birthright comic series.
So after a few months of casting wars on the forums, Henry Cavill has been chosen to take over the tights, and what do I think? Well…I’m quietly confident he can do it. He has been a fan favourite on the boards for years and years, and lost out to Brandon Routh for Superman Returns. He has always been closely linked with the role, and now it is officially his, I’m excited (and a little worried) to see what he does with it.
I actually have not seen him in much, so all I’m going on is the general hear-say that he has sufficient acting chops to pull it off. I guess I have plenty of time to dig into his previous work and get a feel for how he acts.
Going on facial features alone he has it nailed. Chiseled handsome face, blue eyes and dark hair (however my only worry is on his hair, it doesn’t sell me 100% and I’m intrigued to see the first promo pics to see how they are gonna manage it), certainly most of the female reaction thus far has been a collective “phwoar”. And that can only mean a good thing in getting the general audience to go see the movie. He definitely has the body frame to play Superman, but he’s not exactly got the size, mass or tone right now. Therefore I’m hoping that he is chained to the gym and kitchen for now until filming begins this summer. We currently have some seriously pumped Marvel heroes being released this year, and Superman really deserves to look like he can whoop all their asses at once, with one hand behind the back, despite how unlikely a silver screen cross-over would be 
Other than Cavill there have been some interesting contenders for role this time, and it’s a tough one because there are so many factors that have to go into casting Superman. Christopher Reeve was pretty much perfect, no forget that not pretty much, he actually was darn perfect. And to the vast majority of people who aren’t hard core geeks he IS Superman. I think it’s a good move that by casting Henry Cavill they are breaking away from that “Reeve-esque” look, whilst still getting someone that looks like comic book Kal-El come to life. I do think Cavill’s facial features scream Superman, definitely not Christopher Reeve, but certainly Superman. I see this as a great mould breaking boon for the character and franchise as a whole.
I would say that Henry Cavill probably is the best compromise of features, physique, height and most importantly acting ability. Sure Manganiello’s physique and height is pure text book, but I don’t think he has the face for it. Matthew Bommer arguably looks even more like Superman in the face than Christopher Reeve did, and yet he doesn’t have the height or the frame for it.
And what about Brandon Routh? Ah yes poor Brandon, I really feel for him. It does seem like he has been shafted hard by Bryan Singers experiment. Warner Brothers don’t want him on the new project presumably because of the connection to the damp squid that was Superman Returns, but I really don’t feel like he was given enough to work with and prove himself with Returns. I do feel like he should be given another shot. However we are where we are, and as I said at the start of the post, I’m cautiously optimistic that Cavill can pull it off.
