EricLinguist wrote: ↑Wed Aug 11, 2021 2:30 pm I came across Kastrup's ideas for the first time in his podcast conversation with Michael Shermer and was completely blown away. I immediately set out to explore those ideas in more detail and order some of his books, but then I read his twitter thread lambasting Sam Harris with ad hominem attacks a link to a shamelessly slanderous article (but not "endorsing" it?). Not that Harris is unassailable. He's not. A discussion/debate between BK and SH would probably be very enlightening, for listeners as well as the two of them But it's unlikely that Kastrup's combative and petulant online discourse is going to bring that about; in fact it implies a lack of interest in doing so. More importantly, it's not in any way conducive to philosophical inquiry and it also undermines Kastrup's credibility, at least for those of us who believe that there is no philosophy without civil conversation. Really, a public apology is the only way for BK to walk this back.
There is always some social media gamesmanship going on with well-known public intellectuals who are invested in these things. BK had a few choice words for Shermer on Twitter as well, but when they got to talking live a few days ago it looked very cordial from the first 30 min I have watched so far. Think about how much Sam Harris must have been attacked by Christian fundamentalists and atheist PC crowd over the years. He even got ranted at by Ben Affleck for being "Islamophobic" on Bill Maher. What BK said on Twitter is nothing in comparison, IMO, and I doubt Harris or anyone similar takes it personally. When they speak out on topics as sensitive as religion, spirituality, politics, etc., they know exactly what they are signing up for and, moreover, it helps their brand to have the drama. No apology necessary.