Intellectual Sharpening Blocks

Padawanbater2

Padawanbater2

Well-Known Member
Let's talk about this..

Who are the people, what are the ideas that make you a better person? When we think of the idea of a sharpening block and what it is and what it does, it's purpose is to make something better. When I sharpen my blade, it goes against something rough, something rigid and tough, it shaves off the bullshit I didn't need and replaces it with something better, something stronger, something sharper. The same thing happens to ideas when they meet someone that knows some shit. I think we need a list of those people :D

In no particular order, and feel free to add to the list as you see fit! A small bio would be useful too!

-James Randi - bullshit practitioner
-Richard Dawkins - evolutionary biologist/creationist killer
-Christopher Hitchens - P.I.M.P.
 
T

ThickStemz

Well-Known Member
I love the list of three that you put up. That stupid question people ask about who would you like to have dinner with.... I would have to choose Hitchens, and I would add Thomas Jefferson to help entice him to come.

But reading or listening to these men is confirmation bias.

We sharpen our intellect by engaging with those with whom we disagree. We hear their ideas, and in thinking about why we disagree with them we learn more about our own position.

As such, William Lane Craig is a good sharpener. He is a very smart man despite me not agreeing with him. That's on religious moral issues.

In other areas there are others who express the ideas we don't agree with, paying attention to them and defending your beliefs against them sharpens your mind.
 
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