Re: [ba-unrev-talk] An approach to a simpler truth.
Yes, Peter. It isn't in the stores yet, but it looks like it will make a nice
trilogy with "Guns, Germs and Steel" and "The Global Brain." (01)
Henry (02)
Peter Jones wrote: (03)
> I read of a review of this in the Sunday Times (UK).
> It looks like it will be seen as a very important work.
>
> --
> Peter
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Henry K van Eyken" <vaneyken@sympatico.ca>
> To: <ba-unrev-talk@bootstrap.org>
> Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 3:41 PM
> Subject: Re: [ba-unrev-talk] An approach to a simpler truth.
>
> > I haven't been able to follow some of the recent threads, but I do believe
> > the following is elevant:
> >
> > http://www.economist.com/printedition/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=1337125
> >
> > This is The Economist's review of Steven Pinker's latest, "The Blank Slate:
> > The Modern Denial of Human Nature"
> >
> > and the insights it offers may do much to bring our understanding of
> > ourselves as human beings closer to the frontiers of scientific thinking.
> >
> > I shall be obtaining a copy to read it myself - leaving me even less time -
> > because I sense that it may be exceedingly relevant to such matters of human
> > community as democracy, etc.
> >
> > Henry
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Henry
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Graham Stalker-Wilde wrote:
> >
> > > Nietzsche's version of karma (the eternal recurrence) is delightfully non
> > > religious.
> > >
> > > If we reincarnated based on past performance that would perhaps make us
> > > behave well, if we believed it, if we behaved rationally, but if we knew
> > > this was our one and only life? If we knew every moment was unrepeatable?
> > > How well ought we to behave then?
> > >
> > > -g
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-ba-unrev-talk@bootstrap.org
> > > [mailto:owner-ba-unrev-talk@bootstrap.org]On Behalf Of Eric Armstrong
> > > Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 6:50 PM
> > > To: ba-unrev-talk@bootstrap.org
> > > Subject: Re: [ba-unrev-talk] An approach to a simpler truth.
> > >
> > > V.S.Uren@open.ac.uk wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Re: I've long been intrigued by the notion of finding a
> > > > rationalization
> > > > > for doing good to others that *wasn't* based on religion. Such
> > > > > a thing could go a long way to reduce religious prejudice, as well
> > > > > as the worst of captialism. Equilibrium theory holds promise...
> > > > >
> > > > This sounds like a notion I call "practical karma"...
> > > >
> > > Yes. A belief in reincarnation is a *powerful* motivation for doing
> > > good. I look at it this way:
> > >
> > > It's not that I'm going to come back as a llama or an earthworm,
> > > or something.
> > >
> > > It's not even that I'm going to come back as some high-born or
> > > low-born person.
> > >
> > > It's that I'm going to come back to THIS world -- and I'm going
> > > to have live in the garden of eden (or cesspool) I create.
> > >
> > > Talk about incentive to take care of the environment...
> > >
> > > But those are quasi-religious notions. At the very least, they
> > > depend on a particular belief system.
> >
> > (04)