Recent Comments Talks

Talk: Freeman Dyson says: let's look for life in the outer solar system – July 25, 2008

Let's pollute the universe with ourselves.


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Talk: Michael Shermer on believing strange things – July 25, 2008

Brilliant!

Talk: Tod Machover and Dan Ellsey play new music – July 25, 2008

I am the mother of a 12 yr old boy with CP. I wanted to thank you for your work. This was beautiful and so touching that it brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you

Talk: A.J. Jacobs' year of living biblically – July 25, 2008

my deepest, darkest fear is that i actually look and sound like this boring rabbit-man.

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Talk: Louise Leakey digs for humanity's origins – July 25, 2008

We went up into the trees like squirrels, and came down like apes. Thank you trees.

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Talk: David Bolinsky animates a cell – July 25, 2008

Hi PrettyBluePlanet

I realise this answer may be too old, but I have another, or at least differently worded, answer to your question about the second law of thermodynamics. I'm not sure if you're familiar with Arthur C. Clarke's concept of the space elevator - if not, look it up (bearing in mind that carbon nanotubes are being investigated as the material which may make these possible, assuming they iron out some of the more worrying carcinogenic issues)...

Anyway, i digress. One of the best explanations i've heard is that life itself is a space elevator - the initial commitment to energy is large, but thereafter the process is energy neutral, thus neatly bypassing the whole "tending towards entropy" nest of worms...

something to ponder, at least :)

Talk: Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity – July 25, 2008

As an educator and a social entrepreneur, I am fascinated and puzzled by the question of adapting our educational systems to the new needs of our times. In order to be a happy individual, I believe human beings need what is called hard skills (literacy and proficiency in languages and maths), but they also need autonomy, creativity, problem solving skills, self-awareness, compassion. My question is always about teachers' training: how can we train teachers for them to be able to be such role models for our children? Or would it be about a more rigorous selection of education students? Can we afford to be so picky, with the poor conditions offered to teachers?

Talk: Dan Dennett's response to Rick Warren – July 25, 2008

To be honest, I think we simply have a misunderstanding. I do not believe in the non-existence of Zeus or any other deity. I would never tell anyone that their God doesn't exist, merely that I don't factor their existence into my life or my understanding of the universe. As for agnosticism being the scientific position, an agnostic does not believe in the existence of magic teapots and such, but at the same time he wouldn't reject such a theory without looking first at the facts. I fear that a militant atheist might do just that. In a similar manner to the church immediately rejecting heliocentricity without looking into it, I fear many good theories may be discounted and never looked into simply because there is a theistic clause. In the pursuit of knowledge, open-mindedness is key.

As for "Until there is evidence, the proposition remains untrue," I think even this is the wrong approach. Before microscopes, was the existence of cells untrue (this phrasing makes no sense)? Really the mindset should be that until there is evidence, the proposition is unproven. It may or may not be true and until there is evidence it would be silly to form preconceptions that may influence our future decision on whether or not to believe it.

Talk: Dan Dennett's response to Rick Warren – July 25, 2008

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines atheism as "a disbelief in the existence of deity; the doctrine that there is no deity." Agnosticism is defined as "one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god." The important word is disbelief. If you look up disbelief, it's not a lack of belief. It is defined as a "mental rejection of something as untrue." An atheist by definition must then reject the existence of God and synonymously, believe that God does not exist. An agnostic does not believe in anything without evidence, open to the existences of anything, but committed to none. In other words, an agnostic is open-minded and ready to change based on new evidence, and an atheist is inclined to reject new ideas automatically. As an example, heliocentricity was immediately rejected by the church, denounced as lies and blasphemy and was not studied. I'm sure there must have been some christians were open to the idea of heliocentricity who actually looked into the theory but the others let their beliefs blind-side them. If someone today found a theory that somehow proved to some degree the existence of some deity, I wonder if Richard Dawkins and other militant atheists might look into it or reject it all and out.

Talk: Billy Graham on technology, faith and suffering – July 25, 2008

@ Casey: I'm guessing If God were like me, God would disagree with me on lots of things ... like when I think I should not talk to my wife when I'm mad at her ... or my actions as a soldier.... But my God is not like us, I know that God will not be unhappy with me.
Even if as Boris asserts, we invented the concept and justify screwy actions under the name of religion. I believe I exist and grow in God's grace, knowing I'm 'loved' (not like with virgins). I watch for the challenges and take the risks to 'grow' knowing I can only fall so far.

As Graham points out, we are 'forced' to decide. It is not easy. but I'm am a faith-filled scientist who is able to say that I'm definitely *not* an atheist.

Talk: Keith Barry does brain magic – July 25, 2008

Fun to watch, but why are there magic tricks on TED?
I expected few tricks and a lot of talk on how and why they "work".

Talk: Caroline Lavelle casts a spell on cello – July 25, 2008

Wish I could hear her cello!

Talk: Michael Moschen juggles rhythm and motion – July 25, 2008

Fun to watch. I think drummers would get something out of his stick juggling. I also like that he continues to explore new ideas without trying to know what exactly they're going to be.

Talk: Jonathan Harris collects stories – July 25, 2008

Wow, simply amazing. The presentation, the story, the technology, the heartbeat of a photo...future possibilities, and so much more. Thanks!

Talk: Rick Smolan tells the story of a girl – July 25, 2008

Rick's story is amazing! It's about a grandmother's love for her granddaughter and a man that was called to action to fulfill a dying women's request to care for her granddaughter. How could you not fall in love with Natasha? It is obvious from the story that she stood out; not only her appearance as an Amerasian, but her spunk and fun nature!

Talk: Chris Abani muses on humanity – July 25, 2008

i have no words to fully express my appreciation and gratitude for this talk.

thank you chris, thank you ted.


gregory scott

Talk: Richard Dawkins on militant atheism – July 24, 2008

I used to hate Dawkins. But "militant atheism" played a big part in shaking me out of my former religious stupor. It isn't the only useful approach, but I think it is essential in reaching some people who do not require that reality be polite--basically, people who do not need to be talked down to. If you hear the opponents of "militant atheism" talk about how they intend to build bridges, you can see how some on the other side of those bridges might find the approach patronizing and even dishonest. That's why we need "militant atheism," in my opinion.

p.s.: I no longer hate Dawkins, of course. I have come to admire him as a particularly articulate, witty, logical, honest, and humble public figure. This was an enjoyable and reasonable talk.

Talk: Billy Graham on technology, faith and suffering – July 24, 2008

@ Sara: "...there's nothing anyone can say to the person who has encountered God to make him think otherwise." This is ridiculous. I had an extremely close "personal relationship with God," and now I'm an atheist. Here's a fun exercise: try thinking of something you and God disagree on.

Talk: Billy Graham on technology, faith and suffering – July 24, 2008

@ Sara: What exactly makes you think you've "encountered God?"

Talk: Alan Russell on regenerating our bodies – July 24, 2008

just STUNNING. incredibly STUNNING.