Neil deGrasse Tyson on Why He Doesn't Call Himself an Atheist

[rug]

Rationally Speaking

Posted: Mar 10, 2014

Published March 9, 2014, Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson returns for this episode of Rationally Speaking, with a particular question to discuss: Should he call himself an atheist? The impetus is a recent dust-up over Neil's appearance on Big Think, in which he explained that he avoids the label "atheist" because it causes people to make all sorts of unflattering (and often untrue) assumptions. Julia Galef and IEET contributor, Massimo Pigliucci, reply with some counterarguments, and along the way delve into the philosophy of language.

http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/pigliucci20140310

52:54 audio at link.

[longship]

1. Massimo Pigliucci is a very, very smart guy.

He's steeped very deeply into philosophy. I like him, but he really gets deep sometimes.

I will listen to this one, but I am not a regular listener as I am not a big fan of philosophical discussions at Massimo's level.

The argument over labels is a bit silly. I call myself an atheist. Neil deGrasse Tyson does not. In the end it does not matter what one calls oneself. What matters is how you act. And that goes to those who call themselves by other labels, like Christian, etc.

I'll listen to it this evening.

Thanks, rug.

R&K

[rug]

2. I've only got about ten minutes into it.

It's bound to be a stimulating discussion.

[Ron Obvious]

3. But he IS an atheist...

The definition is not complicated.

[rug]

5. Don't you think that's for him to determine?

[Ron Obvious]

7. Maybe

But as far as I'm concerned, an atheist is a fully conscious adult who rejects the notion of a supreme being that governs us.

That's him. That's me. That's both of us. Own it, Neil.

[rug]

8. You just defined deism not atheism.

It's actually simpler than that. It's only nonbelief in any deity, regardless of governing.

[Ron Obvious]

9. OK, lump me in with Jefferson and Mark Twain then.

I'm not too hung up on labels.

Governing, schmongering. I'll be proud of the company.

[Jim__]

4. "Labels are intellectually lazy" - Tyson - may not be an exact quote.

But, I do tend to agree with that. People and their thoughts and beliefs are complex. Labels are a shorthand version of describing someone, but don't really get at the truth.

He made an excellent point at the beginning of the audio. He wished an astronaut friend of his, "Godspeed," before the astronaut went on a mission and people gave him shit about it. They had put a label on him and he wasn't living up to the label. Who needs the grief from the thought police?

[rug]

6. +1