Richard Dawkins, Former Scientist

Meanwhile to another icon of our age, Richard Dawkins.

After being accused by a proper scientist (EO Wilson) of being a "journalist", Dawkins responded with this:

“Anybody who thinks I’m a journalist who reports what other scientists think is invited to read The Extended Phenotype.”

Anybody who thinks I'm a journalist who reports what other scientists think is invited to read The Extended Phenotype.
— Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) November 6, 2014

The Extended Phenotype was written in 1982. Let's accept that Richard Dawkins, in 1982, was a scientist.

In 1982, I was a schoolgirl. Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister. :Lester Piggott was an OBE. Wedges were pretty neat hair cuts. Fluorescent piping on your jeans was compulsory. Tony Blair was a young lawyer. Last of the Summer Wine was a TV Series that some said had gone on too long.Justin Bieber was an egg.

We've all moved on. But let's be fair. Richard Dawkins is not just a journalist. He's a polemicist, and an evangelist. But if the definition of scientist is somebody who actually does Science, then let's face it. Richard Dawkins is no longer a scientist..