Filling a “much-needed gap.”
I was listening to the unabridged audiobook of “The God Delusion” on my way to work this morning, and Dawkins quoted an unintentionally funny bit of advertising copy he had seen for a book. It said that the book “filled a much-needed gap.” Obviously the advertiser meant that the book was much-needed, but what they said was that the gap is what we need — not the book.
on my way to work this morning, and Dawkins quoted an unintentionally funny bit of advertising copy he had seen for a book. It said that the book “filled a much-needed gap.” Obviously the advertiser meant that the book was much-needed, but what they said was that the gap is what we need — not the book.Gaps are needed — they’re vital to progress. Without unanswered questions, there would be no science and no curiosity. If we, as a species, didn’t seek out the reason things are so, we would not have the medical knowledge or technology we enjoy and our standard of living would be much lower.
When a gap is filled with a tested and reasonable explanation, we’re all richer for it. When a gap is filled with nonsense like “God did it,” we’re robbing ourselves of curiosity, wonder, and a chance to make the world a better place.
