How is this significantly different from the Lions Club and Kiwanis, crossed with the local atheist organization?
I see how it’s more rationalist-oriented than the Kiwanis, and more service-oriented than the Atheist Club. And they could probably get more charitable value for money by focusing on high-utility causes—if the rationalists were high-level enough, which the sort of people who respond to “rationalist club” ads might not be. But does “altruist rationalists” correspond to such a significant cluster in personspace that they need their own club? And is this just “we should start a fraternal organization”?
These clubs are interesting and do some good work, but I don’t hear people speaking of them in the same breath as religion (except maybe when they get mystical, like the Freemasons).
Yvain is spot on; secular service organization already exist and function. I have occasionally attended some meetings at a Rotary club and it usually involves eating, a list of ongoing activities, community highlights and recognition of visiting members.
What is special about the way a rationalist helps people? Maybe starting a program to fund probability and philosophy of science classes in the community?
Law school sounds like the best option for finding fellow argumentative atheists.
A lawyer’s expertise is in rationalization, not rationality. Of course, many lawyers may also be excellent rationalists, but my experience is that they’re not generally very sciency people.
That was my point; I was making a dig on the goals of argumentative atheists looking for a support group vs people who might want to advance rationalist goals
How is this significantly different from the Lions Club and Kiwanis, crossed with the local atheist organization?
I see how it’s more rationalist-oriented than the Kiwanis, and more service-oriented than the Atheist Club. And they could probably get more charitable value for money by focusing on high-utility causes—if the rationalists were high-level enough, which the sort of people who respond to “rationalist club” ads might not be. But does “altruist rationalists” correspond to such a significant cluster in personspace that they need their own club? And is this just “we should start a fraternal organization”?
These clubs are interesting and do some good work, but I don’t hear people speaking of them in the same breath as religion (except maybe when they get mystical, like the Freemasons).
Serious altruist atheists are likely to take rationalism fairly seriously, creating a correlation that creates a cluster in personspace.
Yvain is spot on; secular service organization already exist and function. I have occasionally attended some meetings at a Rotary club and it usually involves eating, a list of ongoing activities, community highlights and recognition of visiting members.
What is special about the way a rationalist helps people? Maybe starting a program to fund probability and philosophy of science classes in the community?
Law school sounds like the best option for finding fellow argumentative atheists.
A lawyer’s expertise is in rationalization, not rationality. Of course, many lawyers may also be excellent rationalists, but my experience is that they’re not generally very sciency people.
That was my point; I was making a dig on the goals of argumentative atheists looking for a support group vs people who might want to advance rationalist goals