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Richard Dawkins to be knighted?

I'm not sure how to do a poll but thumbs up if you think he should, thumbs down if you don't (or something) and justify your reason!

I could go on all day why he should be knighted, but I would like to hear your views :biggrin: especially those from a religious background!
(edited 11 years ago)

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Urm, I would say no as there are much more important scientists going unrecognised where he would get knighted for writing pop-science books.

But who thinks of his Biology work these days? Most know him for his athiesm.

I dont know enough about other people who have been knighted so dont have anyone to compare him to.
Original post by Daniel George
I'm not sure how to do a poll but thumbs up if you think he should, thumbs down if you don't (or something) and justify your reason!

I could go on all day why he should be knighted, but I would like to hear your views :biggrin: especially those from a religious background!


Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.

Otherwise GCMG

Otherwise God calls me God (ref Yes Minister)
Knighted for services to....?

He's mainly known by the public for being a staunch atheist, which isn't really a service.
Reply 4
Thumbs up from me for his tireless efforts to promote the public understanding of science.
Reply 5
Original post by miser
Thumbs up from me for his tireless efforts to promote the public understanding of science.


Pretty much this.
Original post by doggyfizzel
Knighted for services to....?

He's mainly known by the public for being a staunch atheist, which isn't really a service.


service towards atheists :wink:?
Reply 7
Thumbs up for me, his books are exceptional for bringing fairly complex evolutionary biology to the mass public, he is a staunch socialist and a pretty caring man with good morals. He is just a bit rude about religion. People with much bigger flaws have been knighted. Oh hi Jimmy Saville...

People who say his staunch Atheism is not a service, actually he is a big player in the British Humanist Society, which believes in upholding good morals regardless of whether you are religious or not. I would say that is a service to everyone.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 8
It would be a service if he had actually managed to turn people away from religion towards something - anything - less nonsensical... but I really don't see any evidence that he has on any grand scale. Why knight him for this failure?

Must try harder, Dawkins!
Reply 9
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, seems like a pretty noble cause.
Reply 10
Original post by redferry
Thumbs up for me, he books are exceptional for bringing fairly complex evolutionary biology to the mass public.


This would be the main reason that I see him being knighted. In fact his books have helped me to see some flaws in certain religions that I hadn't noticed before. I was an atheist before I read his book and am still an atheist, but I have bettered my ability to argue or have conversations on the subject with other people (when the subject arises).

I also really enjoy listening to him doing talks, this one in particular is one of my favourites... http://youtu.be/dGenk99YDwY (includes Neil deGrasse Tyson)
Reply 11
Original post by Grawr
This would be the main reason that I see him being knighted. In fact his books have helped me to see some flaws in certain religions that I hadn't noticed before. I was an atheist before I read his book and am still an atheist, but I have bettered my ability to argue or have conversations on the subject with other people (when the subject arises).

I also really enjoy listening to him doing talks, this one in particular is one of my favourites... http://youtu.be/dGenk99YDwY (includes Neil deGrasse Tyson)


This is pretty much the story of everyone who has ever read a Dawkins book.
Original post by doggyfizzel
Knighted for services to....?

He's mainly known by the public for being a staunch atheist, which isn't really a service.
But that's not what he's actually done. Most of his work has been scientific - most of the books he's written have been an attempt to explain complex science to a general audience. This has been pretty successful, The Selfish Gene alone has sold over a million copies. He also pioneered the concept of the extended phenotype and the meme, not insignificant contributions to evolutionary biology.

Unfortunately because he is an outspoken atheist, that eclipses all his other work in the minds of a lot of people. I don't think it should.
Knighted by the head of the Church of England, well that would be an amusing irony, thumbs up.
Reply 14
Original post by Grawr
This would be the main reason that I see him being knighted. In fact his books have helped me to see some flaws in certain religions that I hadn't noticed before. I was an atheist before I read his book and am still an atheist, but I have bettered my ability to argue or have conversations on the subject with other people (when the subject arises).

I also really enjoy listening to him doing talks, this one in particular is one of my favourites... http://youtu.be/dGenk99YDwY (includes Neil deGrasse Tyson)


I mean lets be honest, his main rival in this field (of books for the public on evolutionary Biology), Matt Ridley, is generally a disgusting and horrible person. It is ridiculous that Dawkins get all the hate when Ridley is basically a cruel rich ****er, heavily involved in the banking crisis and the taxpayers alliance.
Original post by redferry
his main rival in this field (of books for the public on evolutionary Biology)...


How about Steve Jones?
Reply 16
Original post by cambio wechsel
How about Steve Jones?


I find his published work to be of a slightly higher level scientifically in terms of who it is aimed at, also in my degree Ridley and Dawkins were the ones we were recommended to read.
Reply 17
He would have to knighted by the Defender of the Faith... how would that work ?
He should be because his work successfully combined behaviour, evolution and genetics. His contributions to evolutionary science should be recognised even if people don't agree with his world views, he's not harming anyone with them.
Whilst I love seeing him debate and reading his books because I find his view points and arguments interesting, he certainly does not deserve a knighthood, and him accepting one in my mind would make him as bad as the people he tries to refute.

Dawkins is a religious atheist, he is so consumed by arguing there is No God he almost seems to bend back on his logic. He believes outright there IS NO GOD. To believe this as passionately and as bluntly as he does is as bad as the people who believe outright there is a God. Dawkins doesn't accept people who believe, he doesn't take them seriously and I think to ignore the possibility that there is, is simply illogical and as bad as what he argues against. So No I don't beleive Dawkins deserves a knighthood anymore than the bishop of Canterbury.


Also, just for the record I'm an 'atheist' in the sense that I believe it is incredibly unlikely there is a God and so don't worship one, I am not however arrogant enough to say "there is NO God" and I am perfectly happy for a person to worship one (I will not treat them as an idiot as a result of it) the only problem I have is when they try to enforce their own morals and beliefs on others. (gay marraige abortion ect ect ect)

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