Richard Dawkins on the strangeness of science: TEDTalks

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Mind-expanding talk that probes the limits of human understanding: Why can't we see atoms? Why can't we hear color? How can we understand randomness? Dawkins suggests that the true nature of the universe eludes us because the human mind has evolved mainly to understand other humans -- and to look for human motives even in natural processes. Thus, we create a humanlike God to explain phenomena we can't otherwise comprehend; right or wrong, we're simply wired for it. Dawkins is Oxford's Professor for the Public Understanding of Science, and the author of the landmark 1976 book The Selfish Gene and the 2006 bestseller The God Delusion. (Recorded July 2005 in Oxford, UK)

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: January 16, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Author: TEDtalksDirector

Length: 00:22:42
Rating: 4.85
Views: 140868

Tags: TEDTalks science atoms Richard Dawkins God Delusion gravity space-time middle-world

Video Comments:
explosivedoubt (October 12, 2008 at 6:17 am)
this is the most existential i've seen dawkins. which I find beautifully reassuring. I honestly was beginning to think he was a cold, dead cynic inside, I was very wrong. this man DOES take comfort in the unfathomable as well as the provable.
falotnek (October 11, 2008 at 2:38 pm)
None of you understand what Richard Dawkins is talking about. Why are you talking about atheists? Science has nothing to do with atheists. Atheists are people, not a cult.

Science is a tool of thought, wich works. Religion and faith does not work. It can not be applied to any applications.
skmenon23 (October 10, 2008 at 8:15 pm)
No, Advaita means Non-duality i.e singularity, oneness. The sum total. There are actually six schools of thought in Hinduism 5 are rooted in science (almost atheism) and one alone talks of Gods. They evolved progressively each one higher than the preceding and inclusive of it.The last school of thought is Advaita (700 AD) and obviously (mathematically also)it is the last since when you say non-dual, there is nothing left to say.
alvee54 (October 9, 2008 at 1:33 am)
I thought this guy was really something, I had been told how great he is. I looked at his books and said "OK, kinda smart." Now I realize he is just another arrogant, BS artist.
Acronym77 (October 8, 2008 at 12:56 am)
R.I.C.H.A.R.D.
D.A.W.K.I.N.S. =
"Rejecting Irreducible Complexity Hypothesis And Rational Designer Diminishes Atheist With Knowledge Invoking Non-rational Source"

Yes, Atheists would say that they are just a by-product of an unguided universe. But if true, their thinking couldn't be the only rational exception to their universe that isn't supposed to be rational. Hence, their "purposefully" "designed" arguments have just the appearance of design, moved by irrational chemistry in the brain...
whatwasjimthinking (October 8, 2008 at 11:07 am)
Irreducible complexity is not a hypothesis, because it is not science. If you can't test it, it isn't science. Science seeks to understand how something works, and by just stamping 'god did it' on things we learn nothing. All I.D. does is replace a question mark with another question mark. We all know the goal of I.D. is to try and undermine science and shoe-horn god into schools. Funny that the 'designer" could be Zeus or Odin, or even an alien too. I.D was disproved in court as not science.
drakionx (October 7, 2008 at 11:06 am)
Skmenon23:

So you're saying that you hope his fear of death overwhelms his rational thought process and engulfs him?

Some have had this happen, yes, or something similar.

But I ask you, why do believers become Atheists? Maybe they just stopped pretending? I for one hate lies, and to lie to myself is beyond comprehension.
skmenon23 (October 8, 2008 at 6:20 pm)
God Forbid that any one shd lose their rationality.Beleivers become atheists because they dont realise holy books, religion etc are only the preparatory stage. For higher seekers, there are enough clues in all religions that they have to think now differently. In Hinduism for example, if I may say so, the highest state and last one for all matter is singularity - Advaita - Obviously Advaita is nothing but atheism.
drakionx (October 9, 2008 at 4:24 am)
When people lose rationality, what do you get? Religion. It fills the gaps till science figures the truth out.

Written works are only tools of indoctrination, they alone can't brainwash someone. They must give themselves over willingly and completely to be truly blind.

I'm not well versed in Hinduism, but I'm assuming Advaita is similar to Nirvana. But in western terms Nirvana is more of a self deism than Atheism. Buhdda and Diva still sit in the heavenly higheracrchy, even if not "Gods".
MajorPoles (October 7, 2008 at 10:55 am)
All religions claim to see miricules, shurly they cant all be right? Believing is imagining.