“proven intellectual” = being capable of thinking at a much deeper level than most others.

Like evidenced here

You are probably confusing a serious academic researcher for a simple journalist or a writer.

What manner of being is a “proven intellectual”? One who has been shown to think?

The event had been well publicized, and Dr. Borlaug had come well prepared. Unfortunately, only about 25 people showed up. Mostly Desi grad students, a couple of ABCDs, and a handful of PhDs types from the Econ. dept.

The lecture went great – what was sad was that in a university of 40,000 full time students, (and 500+ Indian students – FOB+ABCD), the turnout was so shabby.

The silver lining was that many of us got to interact one-on-one with Dr. Borlaug.

So the “revelation” of her struggling is hardly surprising. It is the daily act to go on amidst doubt and negativity that is inspiring.

You are actually condemning MT more than I intended, my skepticism notwithstanding. I was ready to give her the benefit of the doubt that she went about her charity and suffering “despite” her doubts (non-belief, really, as we have found out). A secular moralist, I suggested. But you say it was all for her own “struggle” and “doubt” that she soldiered on. That doesn’t sound like altruism to me – neither of intent nor consequence. Comes awfully close to self serving sanctimoniousness or hypocrisy. Is that what you meant?

Pinker’s article in my opinion, is excellent and his logic sound, whether or not you find all his “scientific” claims compelling. This is exactly the kind of debate we need in the public square regarding morality, altruism and ethics. For too long the default position has been to give religion the credit for our humane predilections because we are too lazy to examine our own minds and motivations.

First three chapters of the book are online. [link]

One of the most intellectually sloppy ways to respond to an argument is imply dubious Motives of the other side…

even though he and the guy commenting under the handle AudacityOfHope suspiciously share the same IP address.

I don’t know about intellectually sloppy, but it is certainly grammatically sloppy. I had to read the comment over multiple times to realize that the participial phrase “as a lapsed catholic” was intended to describe Vinod, not the commenter himself. Although if he’s picking arbitrary handles while being all churchy, shouldn’t he have used “Kneel” instead?

SM Intern – please do NOT delete Neel’s comment;

Good on you for turning the other cheek, Vinod.

One of the most intellectually sloppy ways to respond to an argument is imply dubious Motives of the other side… It’s only a few notches removed from old skool playground name calling and we’ve all seen quite a few cases of it over the years.

BUT, this is a SPECTACULARLY solid example of this type of shoddiness & one I haven’t seen before. So congrats, Neel, for being up there with the worst of them.

SM Intern – please do NOT delete Neel’s comment; even though he and the guy commenting under the handle AudacityOfHope suspiciously share the same IP address. I’m getting a good chuckle out of it.

Cut it out. There is no measurable consequence of MT’s actions. Wait, maybe there is. Zero. Nothing changed for the person: they died after drinking the water she provided.

As a lapsed Catholic, it is no surprise Vinod would say that.. but I would propose that MT was improving the world through a consequence of her actions – however is not economic consequences as Gates or Borlaug suggest, but spiritual consequences as she deeply believed. The action where one shares with those who are in need; gives food to those who are poor; gives up what one has for the sake of others. It is an economic response to a spiritual reality that could be systemic, scalable with real world consequences if people were brave enough to step up.

I found this somewhat amusing.. “taking Jesus into own’s life” is not quite like taking a pill..

I would recco you actually read about other saints’ lives – and you will find that the majority of these saints have struggled deeply with their faith some point in their lives – ie: even Jesus did at the garden. So the “revelation” of her struggling is hardly surprising. It is the daily act to go on amidst doubt and negativity that is inspiring.

So what you could infer is that there is hope.

And that is exactly what modern India is all about right now – hope for a better tomorrow.

To that end, I sincerely hope that are still people in this world who are willing to make the sacrifice for those in need and be role models for the rest of us cynics out there.