Comments on: Farewell to Norman Jay Levitt (1943-2009) http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/10/27/farewell-to-norman-levitt/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:38:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tanisha Anstett http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/10/27/farewell-to-norman-levitt/#comment-26657 Tanisha Anstett Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:01:49 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4895#comment-26657 South Coast Recovery offers up an unequalled rehabilitation experience. South Coast Recovery offers up an unequalled rehabilitation experience.

]]> By: Steve Jones http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/10/27/farewell-to-norman-levitt/#comment-14477 Steve Jones Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:53:36 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4895#comment-14477 Whatever Steven Fuller is (and I'm thinking he's an ego-driven peddler of twaddle masquerading as some form of intellectual endeavour), he is not British. Now I'm not sure that providing an academic home for the guy is something my country should be proud of, but we wouldn't want to claim all the credit. But back to Norman Levitt. I only fairly recently read A Higher Superstition, and I enjoyed it greatly, albeit it with a certain amount of guilt as it sometimes seemed almost cruel to bring such withering attention to the more inane outpourings of the likes of Steven Fuller. I was brought up on thinking such as that of the late Jacob Bronowski's, whose "The Ascent of Man", lauded the understanding brought about through the enlightenment and it's flowering into an age or rationalism. He would have been truly appalled by the "other ways of understanding" folk who would seek to position all attempts at the rational understanding of the universe as no more than a social construct. He was also a man that understood the true nature of fascism, which clearly Steven Fuller does not. I wouldn't care too much for the fulminations of Steven Fuller if it wasn't for the fact that I see sinister shadows of its influence in the actions of governments. Whatever Steven Fuller is (and I’m thinking he’s an ego-driven peddler of twaddle masquerading as some form of intellectual endeavour), he is not British. Now I’m not sure that providing an academic home for the guy is something my country should be proud of, but we wouldn’t want to claim all the credit.

But back to Norman Levitt. I only fairly recently read A Higher Superstition, and I enjoyed it greatly, albeit it with a certain amount of guilt as it sometimes seemed almost cruel to bring such withering attention to the more inane outpourings of the likes of Steven Fuller. I was brought up on thinking such as that of the late Jacob Bronowski’s, whose “The Ascent of Man”, lauded the understanding brought about through the enlightenment and it’s flowering into an age or rationalism. He would have been truly appalled by the “other ways of understanding” folk who would seek to position all attempts at the rational understanding of the universe as no more than a social construct. He was also a man that understood the true nature of fascism, which clearly Steven Fuller does not.

I wouldn’t care too much for the fulminations of Steven Fuller if it wasn’t for the fact that I see sinister shadows of its influence in the actions of governments.

]]> By: D² http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/10/27/farewell-to-norman-levitt/#comment-14416 D² Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:42:07 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4895#comment-14416 Fitting indeed to fearlessly rend literary flesh thus; more so when the author is little more than a politician masquerading as a pseudo-intellectual. So few like Diogenes, so many charlatans to expose. Norman, may your spirit forever enlighten. Fitting indeed to fearlessly rend literary flesh thus; more so when the author is little more than a politician masquerading as a pseudo-intellectual. So few like Diogenes, so many charlatans to expose.
Norman, may your spirit forever enlighten.

]]> By: MadScientist http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/10/27/farewell-to-norman-levitt/#comment-14412 MadScientist Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:17:07 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4895#comment-14412 I've enjoyed Norm Levitt's reviews for as long as I can remember. I've also torn into Fara for her idiocy and rank revisionism when her book came out, but I love Norm's version. I’ve enjoyed Norm Levitt’s reviews for as long as I can remember. I’ve also torn into Fara for her idiocy and rank revisionism when her book came out, but I love Norm’s version.

]]> By: Anthony O'Neal http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/10/27/farewell-to-norman-levitt/#comment-14411 Anthony O'Neal Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:10:28 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4895#comment-14411 I've never read an article of his before, but the one you just posted was absolutely brilliant. I’ve never read an article of his before, but the one you just posted was absolutely brilliant.

]]> By: Kitapsiz http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/10/27/farewell-to-norman-levitt/#comment-14408 Kitapsiz Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:19:11 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=4895#comment-14408 Anyone, with that caliber of linguistic acumen, is not only someone to be listened to, but to be honored for their efforts in avoiding the banal and mundane. Although I didn't have the pleasure of knowing him in the same fashion as the Skeptics, yes, his voice will be missed. Hail the honored dead. Anyone, with that caliber of linguistic acumen, is not only someone to be listened to, but to be honored for their efforts in avoiding the banal and mundane.

Although I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing him in the same fashion as the Skeptics, yes, his voice will be missed.

Hail the honored dead.

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