Nothing (General)

by David Turell , Wednesday, December 09, 2009, 19:05 (5461 days ago) @ George Jelliss

Both McCabe and Scharf criticise Stenger for being "a retired physicist". I don't recall anyone ever criticising Bertrand Russell for being "a retired mathematical logician".-As I read them, both are simply describing Stenger as retired. If you referred to me as a retired physician I would not take it as criticism or derisive. It is a simple truth. 
> 
> McCabe begins his piece with a far worse outright ad hominem insult: "One could be forgiven for assuming, from name alone, that 'Victor Stenger' is either a science-fiction writer from the 1950s, or a porn-star."-I agree with you that the above ad hominem is uncalled for, but McCabe's other criticisms are right on point. Carefully read them. 
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> Anyone who says that, on the basis solely of someone's name, doesn't deserve any further consideration in my view.-That is not an excuse for looking at his real criticism.
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> If you are trying tp discredit Stenger, you're going to have to find better witnesses than these.-I will. That should be easy.