[Phys-L] Re: Ten Most Harmful Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries

[jmackey at HARDING.EDU (James E Mackey)]

I usually find Richards' posts interesting, if long!  I even read most
of them.  I found it distressing to see Intelligent Design linked in
with the electron/water machine and alien abduction. This ridiculing of
intelligent design proponents is a tactic I hate to see ( if you don't
like something then ridicule it and anyone who doesn't agree with your
views).  What that had to do with that highly opinionated list of the 10
most dangerous books, I don't know
James Mackey

Richard Hake wrote:

> Those who dislike long posts (17 kB) or references, or have no
> interest in the "Ten Most Harmful Books" are urged to hit the DELETE
> button. And if you reply PLEASE DON'T HIT THE REPLY BUTTON unless you
> prune the copy of this post that may appear in your reply down to a
> few relevant lines, otherwise the entire already archived post may be
> needlessly resent to subscribers.
>
> ABSTRACT: I reference attempts by  Michael Shermer, Sharon Begley,
> and Susan Clancy to answer the question "Why do people believe in
> weird things," e.g., the ability of a commercially available
> "electron water/air machine" to change the hydrogen bond angle of
> water, "Intelligent Design," abduction by aliens from outer space,
> and (most outrageously) THAT DEWEY'S "DEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION" IS THE
> 5TH MOST HARMFUL BOOK OF THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES (as indicated by
> 15 "conservative scholars and public policy leaders" designated as
> judges by the editors of the conservative weekly "Human Events").
> Have there been any substantive counters to that harmful book list?
> There can be little doubt that (with the possible exception of "Mein
> Kampf") blogger Harvey Jerkwater's list (headed by Julie Child's
> "Mastering the Art of French Cooking") contains books far more
> harmful than those listed by "World Events."
> -------------------------------------------