Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: coberst on 16/06/2009 20:58:07
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What truths would a wise person pursue?
The book Beyond Alienation by Ernest Becker attempts to clarify the nature of the human problem and to provide a solution for this problem. If humanity is to resolve this problem it must find a way to instruct itself wisely in the matter of social morality.
Humanity must develop a synthesis of knowledge that can serve as a reasoned basis for constructing a moral rationality. We need to develop a means whereby secular moral science becomes the central consideration for learning.
If I had the ability I would draw a cartoon character with an Arnold Schwarzenegger-like upper torso supported on two thin, spindly, and varicose veined legs. This cartoon character would represent humanity as I visualize the human species.
The strong upper torso represents our strong aptitude for technological achievement and the supporting legs represent our weak and wobbly moral rationality that is failing to provide the foundation needed by humanity.
Philosophy and theology does deal with morality but in a fundamentally different manner. The moral philosophy Becker speaks of recognizes that knowledge is never absolute and therefore must not remain static but must be dynamic reflecting the constant discovery initiated by science. Knowledge is that which helps to promote human welfare in the here and now.
Pragmatism is a self-consistent philosophy that honors the idea that what humans value is that which is relative to what is satisfying. This did not mean just the satisfaction of human appetite but there is recognition that humans are rational creatures; meaning that a value is judged so only when it is chosen in a critical mode of careful examination. “And it is the community of men, in free and open inquiry and exchange, who formulate the ideal values.”
Dewey’s pragmatism was dedicated to the task of reconstruction. Education was considered to be “the supreme human interest” wherein all philosophical problems come to a head. Dewey’s pragmatism failed because it was a call to action without a standard for action. Education must be progressive and must have a strong critical content.
The big question then is what can philosophy and science tell education to do? “What truths is man to pursue for the sake of man? What should we learn about man and society, knowledge that would show us, by clear and compelling logic, how to act and how to choose in our person and social life?”
Becker thinks that we must transform the university from its present vocational education institution into one leading the transformation of society. It is in this solution that I differ with Becker. I do not think that higher education will ever change its role of preparing students to become productive workers and avid consumers—at least until after the revolution.
I think that in the United States there is a great intellectual asset that goes unused. Most adults engage in little or no critical intellectual efforts directed at self-actualizing self-learning after their schooling is finished. If a small percentage of our adults would focus some small part of their intellectual energies toward self-actualizing self-learning during the period between the end of their formal education and mid-life they could be prepared to focus serious time and intellectual focus upon creating an intellectual elite that could make up a critical intellectual element dedicated toward the regeneration of our society.
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This life is all you've got so take your head from up your bum and live it. Get out there, smell coffee and flowers, kiss babies, run until you are out of breath, swim in the sea and stand on top of mountains singing "If I rule the world." This is the wisest pursuit I can think off.
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What truths would a wise person pursue? Something more worthwhile than becoming rather adept at making people pass out from sheer overwhelming boredom at the sight of your posts
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It appears to me that science has accumulated a great deal of knowledge regarding human nature that would be very useful for everyone to know. Unfortunately our schools and colleges are focused almost exclusively upon teaching us what we need to know to get a good job. I think that this situation needs to be radically modified.
A person can become a self-actualizing self-learner and thus reduce the level of naïveté and its associated boredom in the world.
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No school is exciting, learning is exciting and if you don't want to learn school is a great social networking experience with real people who demand responses to their questions.
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A person can become a self-actualizing self-learner and thus .........
.......realise that nobody gives ****** about your mind numbing posts, quit and disappear over the horizon....... BYEEeeeeee. (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fwaving%2F2.gif&hash=16393bb1e4d71b3b46a4e73969dee0ff)
What truths would a wise person pursue? Something more worthwhile than becoming rather adept at making people pass out from sheer overwhelming boredom at the sight of your posts
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fthumbs%2F7.gif&hash=2abc85c2dea35d2f56283b5a399ac052)
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I think the truth you must persue is to listen to the voices of others. If you only listen to yourself you will go mad! Am I too late?
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I reckon so.
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The truth I think I would realize is that living in a hick town in western North Carolina is about as self-defeating as it can get, move to a bigger city - say Ashville or Atlanta - and stop posting meaningless cra* that just takes up bandwidth. Mind numbing questions such as this should be asked in some angst-ridden coffee shop or bar with other depressed society drop-outs, not where people want to have a little fun.
The chat section is for members entertainment, not pseudo-philosophy.
GET A LIFE, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
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Haha, well said. Self-actualize that!
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Hey Jimbob, watch what you are saying about people sitting around in coffee shops! I spend a good portion of my leisure time in one. Big up the Blue Onion crew in Andover, Yeh!