Dogmatic positions

Michael Shermer vs Douglas Jacoby: A debate on evolution and God.

For me, one of the most interesting moments in this debate between Michael Shermer and Douglas Jacoby occurred at the beginning of the Q&A section, when a young gentleman from the audience asked the first question: «What sort of new evidence would it take to get you to change your mind?»

That is a question that helps us to ponder how different or how similar are the positions held by the debaters. The debaters held opposing positions, but this opposition is superficial. Actually, based on each response to the question, both of them share a dogmatic* position. Both of them could encourage the use of reason, evidence, and questioning before accepting any truth claim, yet none of them have exerted self-questioning to their own opinions.

I see very little value in such a “debate” between apparently opposing positions which are deeply similar.

* Dogmatism is the tendency to express strongly held opinions in a way that suggests they should be accepted without question; and dogma is a forcibly asserted opinion expressed as incorrigible, immutable, and unchallengeable.