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The Verge just keeps putting out articles on Peter Thiel. Seems now like Thiel might be teaching a seminar at the Berkeley Institute:
Earlier this year, the Berkeley Institute, a private academic institution, listed a seminar on "Heterodox Science." The seminar was first scheduled to begin in November, then moved to January. On the Institute's website, the instructor of the Heterodox Science course has been described only as "Guest Instructor: Author & Founder of IMITATIO." The accompanying photo is of the back of a white man's head. IMITATIO has three founders; two are dead. The third is billionaire PayPal founder, Gawker litigator, ubiquitous venture capitalist, and contrarian Trump advisor, Peter Thiel.
IMITATIO is a website dedicated to the ideas of René Girard, and his theory of memetic desire.
The Verge continues:
What is Heterodox Science? "Heterodox" — coming from the Greek root words heteros, meaning "the other," and doxa, meaning "opinion" — refers to atypical beliefs or those beliefs which go against prevailing norms. In the modern political context, heterodoxy has been adopted by conservative groups concerned about what they view as a suffocating echo chamber in the liberal academy. The most prominent heterodox organization is the "Heterodox Academy," which describes itself as an "association of professors who have come together to express their support for increasing viewpoint diversity—particularly political diversity—in universities."
Interesting, heterodox is also the root for "heretic"! And it appears that some have gotten the ear of the president elect? But it may ultimately be that "heterodox science" is just like "alternative medicine" according to the old joke: "Do you know what they call alternative medicine that actually works? Medicine."
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 02 2017, @12:46AM
Weird.
The only etymology I can find that confirms "heterodox" as a root of "heretic" is a comment posted 5 hours ago on merriam-webster.com.
GG trolls.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 02 2017, @12:56AM
Maybe it is a "heterodox etymology"? After all, we live in a post-etymological world now!
(Score: 5, Informative) by AthanasiusKircher on Monday January 02 2017, @01:41AM
The only etymology I can find that confirms "heterodox" as a root of "heretic" is a comment posted 5 hours ago on merriam-webster.com.
Yeah, the summary has a bogus claim. Heretic and heresy come from Latin haeresis, which means "philosophical sect" or "school of thought." The Latin word ultimately comes from hairesis (αἵρεσις), a "choice," based on the Greek verb hairein, which means "to choose." Heretics originally were those who made different choices about doctrine.
Meanwhile, heterodox comes from Greek hetero- a prefix meaning "the other" and doxa "opinion"; the ancient Greek word heterodoxos (ἑτερόδοξος) means "differing in opinion."
While both words were used in ancient times to refer to views of less mainstream sects, there is no etymological connection between the two words.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 02 2017, @02:42AM
That's what happens when you let an arrogant loony post instead of the real Aristarchus, who is long dead.
(Score: 5, Touché) by aristarchus on Monday January 02 2017, @03:01AM
Reports of my death were greatly exaggerated! But more to your point, this FA was submitted by yourself, Anonymous Coward. I would never confuse αἵρεσις with ἑτερός, this looks like the kind of mistake a native English speaker might make.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday January 02 2017, @06:21AM
Don't bother; half the people on this site think "Koine" has something to do with change machines.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Monday January 02 2017, @09:47AM
Hmm, what would they make of Attic Greek, then? Not to mention Ionian and Phrygian, which I won't mention.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Monday January 02 2017, @02:08PM
Wait, did somebody mention Bit Koine, a technology for converting vast quantities of ouzo and olive oil into a blockchain of Zenos Paradox proofs?
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday January 02 2017, @10:45PM
It's Greek to me \(O_o)/
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...