0
NL888 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

All equally uncontaminated by evidence?

Does "all equally uncontaminated by evidence" mean "all equally not evidence-based/all equally groundless"?

Context:

Synopsis

The End of Faith opens with a literary account of a day in the life of a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_attack– his last day. In an introductory chapter, Harris calls for an end to respect and tolerance for the competing belief systems of religion, which he describes as being "all equally uncontaminated by evidence". While focusing on the dangers posed by religious extremist groups now armed with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_mass_destruction, Harris is equally critical of religious moderation, which he describes as "the context in which religious violence can never be adequately opposed."
  

Top answer

Yes. The phrase also has a sarcastic tone.

— Clive

  • Yes.
  • The phrase also has a sarcastic tone.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
Yes. The phrase also has a sarcastic tone.
0
0
NL888Does "all equally uncontaminated by evidence" mean "all equally not evidence-based/all equally groundless"?
Yes, but I would not express it with the phrasing "all equally not evidence-based". The English is quite awkward. Your other choice "all equally groundless" is a much more elegant way of paraphrasing Harris's words.

CJ
0
0
However, 'that loses the sarcastic wit of the original phrase.
0
0
CliveHowever, 'that loses the sarcastic wit of the original phrase.
True. You can't put everything in a paraphrase, because then you'd just have to restate the original.

So are you saying that "all equally not evidence-based" is the better of the two paraphrases suggested by the OP?

CJ
0
0
No, I didn't intend to say that.
0
0
CliveNo, I didn't intend to say that.
I didn't think so. Just confirming my suspicions.

Off-topic: I'm fairly sure about the sarcasm, but not whether I'd call it "wit". I've never read Harris without becoming annoyed about something or other within 10 pages. Even when he makes points I can agree with, he rubs me the wrong way.
0
0
I haven't read Harris, but I liked the phrase. I guess 'wit' is in the eye of the beholder, particularly in a context of sarcasm.Emotion: geeked
0

Related Questions