Wikipedia

Victor J. Stenger

Victor John Stenger(/ˈstɛŋɡər/;January 29, 1935 – August 25, 2014) was an Americanparticle physicist,philosopher,author, andreligious skeptic.

Victor J. Stenger
Victor J. Stenger in 2011
BornJanuary 29, 1935[1]
Bayonne, New Jersey,U.S.
DiedAugust 25, 2014(2014-08-25)(aged 79)[2]
Honolulu, Hawaii,U.S.
Alma materNew Jersey Institute of Technology,UCLA
SpousePhylliss Marcia (Black) Stenger (m. 1962)
ChildrenNoelle Green, Victor Andrew
Scientific career
FieldsParticle physics,philosophy
ThesisLow EnergyK+dScattering and theI=0KNInteraction(1963)
Doctoral advisorHarold K. Ticho

Following a career as aresearch scientistin the field of particle physics, Stenger was associated withNew Atheismand he authoredpopular sciencebooks.[3]He published twelve books for general audiences onphysics,quantum mechanics,cosmology,philosophy,religion,atheism,andpseudoscience,including the 2007 best-sellerGod: The Failed Hypothesis:How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist.His final book wasGod and the Multiverse: Humanity's Expanding View of the Cosmos(2014). He was a regular featured science columnist for theHuffington Post.[4]

An advocate for removing the influence of religion from scientific research, commercial activity, and the political process,[5]Stenger coined thequote:"Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings" (a reference to theSeptember 11 attacks).[6]

Personal life

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Victor J. Stenger was born on January 29, 1935, and raised in a working-class neighborhood ofBayonne, New Jersey.His father was aLithuanianimmigrant, and his mother was the daughter ofHungarianimmigrants.[7][8]He died on August 25, 2014, at the age of 79.[2]

Career

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Education and employment

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Stenger attended public schools in Bayonne, New Jersey, and received aBachelor of Scienceinelectrical engineeringfrom Newark College of Engineering (now theNew Jersey Institute of Technology). He then moved toLos Angeleson aHughes Aircraft Companyfellowship, earning aMaster of ScienceandPhDin physics fromUCLA.[9]

He was a member of the Department of Physics at theUniversity of Hawaiiuntil his 2000 retirement.[1]He held visiting positions on the faculties of theUniversity of Heidelbergin Germany andOxford University(twice) and was a visiting researcher atRutherford Appleton Laboratory[10]inEngland,theNational Nuclear Physics LaboratoryinFrascati,Italy,and theUniversity of Florencein Italy.[11]He served as anadjunct professorof philosophy at theUniversity of Colorado at Boulder.[1][12]

Scientist

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Stenger's first peer-reviewed work was published in 1964, and his research career continued until his retirement in 2000. His research involved work that determined properties ofgluons,quarks,strangeparticles, andneutrinos.[9][12]Stenger focused onneutrino astronomyand very high-energygamma rays.[1][12]

Philosopher and skeptic

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Stenger was an advocate ofphilosophical naturalism,skepticism,andatheism,and wrote several books and papers about therelationship between science and religion.He was a prominent critic ofintelligent designand the aggressive use of theanthropic principle.He maintained that ifconsciousnessandfree willdo exist, they will eventually be explained in a scientific manner that invokes neither themysticalnor thesupernatural.[3]He criticized those who invoke theperplexitiesofquantum mechanicsin support of theparanormal,mysticism,orsupernatural phenomena,writing several books and articles todebunkcontemporarypseudoscience.[13]

Stenger took part in the 2008 "Origins Conference" hosted by theSkeptics Societyat theCalifornia Institute of Technology[12]and debatedHugh Rosson the topic of whether science supports belief inexistence of God.[14]

In 1992,Uri Gellersued Stenger andPrometheus Booksfor $4 million, claimingdefamationfor questioning his "psychicpowers. "The suit was dismissed and Geller was ordered to paycourt costs.[15]

Astronomer Luke Barnes argued in a 2012 paper that many of Stenger's claims about fine-tuning were problematic and that his arguments were fallacious.[16]Stenger responded that Barnes misunderstood and misrepresented his positions.[17]

Professional and community positions

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Publications by Stenger

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Books for general audiences

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Peer-reviewed articles

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Other essays

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  • Stenger, Victor (May–June 1993),"The Myth of Quantum Consciousness"(PDF),The Humanist,vol. 53, pp. 13–15, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2011-06-06
  • Stenger, Victor (1996),"New Age Physics: Has Science Found the Path to the Ultimate?"(PDF),Free Inquiry,vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 7–11, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2015-09-24,retrieved2014-10-31
  • Stenger, Victor (1996), "Cosmythology: Was the Universe Designed to Produce Us?",Skeptic,vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 36–40
  • Stenger, Victor (1996), "Quantum Metaphysics", in Brown, Laurence; Farr, Bernard; Hoffmann, Joseph (eds.),Modern Spiritualities: An Inquiry,Prometheus Books, pp. 243–253
  • Stenger, Victor (1998),"Has Science Found God?",Free Inquiry,vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 56–58, archived fromthe originalon 2010-07-06,retrieved2010-11-03
  • Stenger, Victor (1999), "The Anthropic Coincidences: A Natural Explanation",Skeptical Intelligencer,vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 2–17
  • Stenger, Victor (July–August 1999),"Anthropic Design: Does the Cosmos Show Evidence of Purpose?",Skeptical Inquirer,vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 40–63, archived fromthe originalon 2005-12-05
  • Ramey, David; Stenger, Victor (1999), "Energy Medicine",Consumer's Guide to Alternative Therapies in the Horse,Howell Book House, pp. 55–66,ISBN978-1582450629
  • Stenger, Victor (2000), "The Pseudophysics of Therapeutic Touch", in Scheiber, Béla; Selby, Carla (eds.),Therapeutic Touch,Prometheus Books, pp. 302–311,ISBN978-1-57392-804-5
  • Stenger, Victor (2000),Intelligent Design: The New Stealth Creationism(PDF),archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-08-31,retrieved2015-11-12
  • Stenger, Victor (2001), "Humanity in Time and Space",Free Inquiry,vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 42–69
  • Stenger, Victor (2001),"Time's Arrows Point Both Ways: The View From Nowhen"(PDF),Skeptic,vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 90–95, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-06-23,retrieved2013-08-01
  • Stenger, Victor (September–October 2001),"The God of Falling Bodies",Skeptical Inquirer,vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 46–49, archived fromthe originalon 2017-07-13,retrieved2010-11-03
  • Stenger, Victor (2001), "The Breath of God: Identifying Spiritual Force", in Kurtz, Paul (ed.),Skeptical Odysseys,Prometheus Books, pp. 363–374,ISBN978-1-57392-884-7
  • Stenger, Victor (2003), "Anthropic Design: Does the Cosmos Show Evidence of Purpose?", in Kurtz, Paul (ed.),Science and Religion: Are They Compatible?,Prometheus Books, pp.47–49,ISBN978-1-59102-064-6
  • Stenger, Victor (2003), "The Premise Keepers",Free Inquiry,vol. 23, no. 3
  • Stenger, Victor (2004), "Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Us?", in Young, Matt;Edis, Taner(eds.),Why Intelligent Design Fails: A Scientific Critique of the New Creationism,Rutgers University Press, pp. 172–184,ISBN978-0813538723
  • Stenger, Victor (2005),"Flew's Flawed Science",Free Inquiry,vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 17–18, archived fromthe originalon 2006-05-02,retrieved2010-11-04
  • Stenger, Victor (2006), "The Scientific Case Against a God Who Created the Universe", in Martin, Michael; Monnier, Ricki (eds.),The Improbability of God,Prometheus Books,ISBN978-1-59102-381-4
  • Stenger, Victor (2006),"Do Our Values Come from God? The Evidence Says No"(PDF),Free Inquiry,vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 42–45, archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-02-25,retrieved2013-07-29
  • Stenger, Victor (2006),"A Scenario for a Natural Origin of Our Universe"(PDF),Philo,vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 93–102,arXiv:0710.3137,retrieved2024-06-11
  • Stenger, Victor (2007), "Clock Time", in Darity, William (ed.),International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd Edition,Macmillan Reference USA,ISBN978-0028661179
  • Stenger, Victor (2007), "Reality", in Darity, William (ed.),International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd Edition,Macmillan Reference USA,ISBN978-0028661179
  • Stenger, Victor (2008), "Physics, Cosmology, and the New Creationism", in Petto, Andrew; Godfrey, Laurie (eds.),Scientists Confront Creationism: Intelligent Design and Beyond,W. W. Norton & Company, Inc.,ISBN978-0-393-33073-1
  • Stenger, Victor (March 2008),"Is the Brain a Quantum Device?",Skeptical Briefs,vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 9, 13
  • Stenger, Victor (2008), "Where Can God Act? The New Quantum Theology",Free Inquiry,vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 1–36
  • Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Arrow of", in Birx, H. James (ed.),Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture,SAGE Publications, Inc,ISBN978-1412941648
  • Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Asymmetry of", in Birx, H. James (ed.),Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture,SAGE Publications, Inc,ISBN978-1412941648
  • Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Operational Definition of", in Birx, H. James (ed.),Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture,SAGE Publications, Inc,ISBN978-1412941648
  • Stenger, Victor (2009), "Universe, Origin of", in Birx, H. James (ed.),Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture,SAGE Publications, Inc,ISBN978-1412941648
  • Stenger, Victor (2009), "Planck time", in Birx, H. James (ed.),Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture,SAGE Publications, Inc,ISBN978-1412941648
  • Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Symmetry of", in Birx, H. James (ed.),Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture,SAGE Publications, Inc,ISBN978-1412941648
  • Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Units of", in Birx, H. James (ed.),Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture,SAGE Publications, Inc,ISBN978-1412941648
  • Stenger, Victor (2012), "Free Will and Autonomous Will",Skeptic,vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 15–19

Columnist

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From 1998 to 2011 Stenger wrote for the column "Reality Check,"inSkeptical Briefs,the quarterly newsletter of theCommittee for Skeptical Inquiry(CSI).[19]

Since August 2010, he was also a regularly featured science columnist for theHuffington Post.[4][20]

Pantheon of skeptics

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Stenger has been included inCSI's Pantheon of Skeptics. The Pantheon of Skeptics was created by CSI to remember the legacy of deceased fellows of CSI and their contributions to the cause ofscientific skepticism.[21]

References

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  1. ^abcd"Stenger's complete CV"(PDF).University of Colorado. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 16 April 2015.
  2. ^abMehta, Hemant."Victor Stenger, Physicist and Prolific Atheist Author, is Dead at 79".Patheos.Retrieved30 August2014.
  3. ^abShermer, Michael (2014-09-20)."The Fifth Horseman: The Insights of Victor Stenger (1935–2014)".Skeptic (American magazine).Retrieved2024-06-08.
  4. ^abAudio of interview with Stenger on the podcast "Skepticality"released 28 August 2012 by theSkeptics Society.
  5. ^Stenger, Victor J. (9 March 2012)."The Fall of Foolish Faith".Huffington Post.Retrieved27 March2014.
  6. ^"Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings. - Victor Stenger - RichardDawkins.net".Old.richarddawkins.net. 2009-02-01.Retrieved2013-07-29.
  7. ^"A Biography of Victor J. Stenger".Colorado.edu.Retrieved2013-07-29.
  8. ^"Victor Stenger".29 January 1980.
  9. ^ab"[Denver] Victor Stenger:" God: The Failed Hypothesis "".Center for Inquiry. Archived fromthe originalon 2015-09-08.Retrieved2009-12-21.
  10. ^"Quantum Metaphysics".Colorado.edu.Retrieved2009-12-21.
  11. ^"Victor Stenger - God: The Failed Hypothesis".Point of Inquiry. 2007-03-02.Retrieved2009-12-21.
  12. ^abcd"ORIGINS — the BIG Questions: 2008 Skeptics Society Conference: Dr. Victor Stenger".Origins.skeptic.com.Retrieved2009-12-21.
  13. ^"Victor Stenger".The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.Archived fromthe originalon 2014-04-11.Retrieved2009-12-21.
  14. ^https://origins.skeptic.com/downloads/2008_Conference_Brochure.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  15. ^"Uri Geller Libel Suit Dismissed".Skeptical Inquirer.August 1994. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-02-11.
  16. ^Barnes, Luke (June 2012). "The Fine-Tuning of the Universe for Intelligent Life".Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia.29(4): 529–564.arXiv:1112.4647.Bibcode:2012PASA...29..529B.doi:10.1071/AS12015.S2CID2951263.
  17. ^Stenger, Victor J.(28 Jan 2012). "Defending The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning".arXiv:1202.4359[physics.pop-ph].
  18. ^"CSI Board, Fellows, and Staff".Retrieved16 July2014.
  19. ^"Skeptical Briefs — Reality Check".2 June 2008.Retrieved16 July2014.
  20. ^"Entries by Victor Stenger".Huffington Post.Retrieved1 November2014.
  21. ^"The Pantheon of Skeptics".CSI.Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.Archivedfrom the original on 31 January 2017.Retrieved30 April2017.
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