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Page added on December 18, 2016
There is only one culture: bringing back science into the fold of humanism
Thanks for this question – it is a very interesting question: “are we teaching enough science to our children?” And I can tell you that it is much more than an interesting question, it caused some small earthquake in my mind. Truly, I had a flash of understanding that I had never had before and right now I completely changed my view of the world. It happens to me: the world changes so fast and I do my best to follow it.
Your question is so interesting because it has to do with the idea that there are two cultures: a scientific one and a literary one. As a consequence, some of us think that instruction is unbalanced in one or the other direction: maybe we teach too little science to our children, maybe too much. The whole idea goes back to someone named Snow who proposed it in the 1950s. He was not wrong, I think, but there were problems with the idea. The concept of the two cultures can be intended as meaning that we need somehow to bridge the gap that exists in between. Or, and I think that’s what happens most often, it can be interpreted as meaning that one of the two cultures is superior to the other. That can generate a competition between the two and divide people into two different tribes: literates and scientists. We are very good, as human beings, at dividing ourselves into separate tribes fighting each other. And that’s bad, as you can imagine. Actually, it is a disaster. Snow was a scientist and he decried the scientific ignorance of literates. On this, he was right but in the long run the result was that literates despise scientists as illiterate boors and scientists despise literates as feebleminded ignorants.
Now, I had been thinking about all this and, as I said, today I had this flash that focused my mind on a concept. I think we have to say this clearly: this story of the “two cultures” is an idiocy. It must end. There is only ONE culture, and that’s what we may call “humanism,” if nothing else because we are all humans. That is, unless someone in the audience today is an alien or a droid. In such case, would you please stand up? No……? Apparently, we are all humans in this room and so we call our culture “humanism” (or, sometimes, “arts and humanities”) How else would you call it?
So, there is really no reason for considering modern science a separate culture rather than part of the human culture that we call humanism. I am saying this as a scientist: science is part of what I would like to call human “sapience”, what the ancient called “sophos“; that we translate as “wisdom” “sapience,” or “knowledge.” The term philosopher just means someone who loves sapience. And that’s what we are; scientists or non-scientists, the very fact that we are here today, engaged in this discussion. means that we love knowledge: we are all philosophers. And that’s a good thing to be; sapience is what makes us human and that’s why we speak of humanism.
So, why do science and scientists sometimes pretend to be a separate branch of knowledge? Well, it has to do with another concept that comes to us from the Greek philosophy. It goes under the name of techné that we may translate as “craftsmanship” and that originates the modern term “technology”. Here lies the problem.
Five minutes ago, someone asked me about hydrogen powered cars. I answered that they have been a complete failure and that was it. But I ask you to go a little more in depth with this question. Why do many of us think these things are important: hydrogen cars, a hydrogen powered economy, and lots of strange things we hear as proposed by scientists and that are said to be able to “solve our problems.” Why is that? There is a reason and it goes back to a period in history when scientists found that they were able to devise some clever gadgets: you remember the “atomic age”, right? It started more or less from there. Then there was the space age, the information age, and so on. There was this great wave of optimism when we really thought that science would bring us a new age of happiness and prosperity – it was the triumph of technology over everything else. The triumph of techné over sophos.
That period of optimism is still with us: anything that you say that disputes the sacred cow of economic growth is answered with “the scientists will think of something.” Climate change? Resource Depletion? Pollution? Not really problems if you have the right gadget to solve them. And this brings, sometimes, the question “do we teach enough science to our children?” It is a result of the opinion that, in order to solve our problems, we need more gadgets and that, in order to have more gadgets, we need more science and that, in order to have more science, we need to teach more of it to our children. I think this is not a good idea. I think we have too many gadgets, not too few. And all these gadgets either don’t work or cause more problems than those they are supposed to solve. Think about that: we wanted flying cars and we got killer drones, we wanted freedom and we got body scanners, we wanted cheap energy and we got Fukushima, we wanted knowledge and we got 140 characters, we wanted a long life and we got Alzheimer. The more gadgets we have, the worse the situation becomes.
Don’t get me wrong: I am not saying that technology is bad in itself. We all live in heated spaces, we use electricity, when we have a headache we take an aspirin, and we use a lot of useful devices in our everyday life. I am not telling you that we should run to the woods and live as our stone-age ancestors – not at all. Being good craftsmen is part of being human. It is just that this fascination with gadgetry is generating multiple disasters, as we have been discussing today: from climate change to all the rest. One of these disasters is the decline of science, with scientists often turned into those raucous boors who feel they have to send out a press release every month or so to describe how their new gadget will save the world.
It can’t work in this way. We need to take control of the technology we use, we need to stop being controlled by it. And I think the first step for retaking control is to bring science back into the fold of humanism. I am saying this as a scientist and as someone who loves science – I have been loving science from when I was a kid. Modern science is a beautiful thing; well worth being loved. It has been telling us so much that’s worth knowing: the history of our planet, the origin and the fate of the universe, the thermodynamic engines that make everything move, and much more. We need to see science as part of the human treasure of knowledge and we need to love knowledge in all its forms. And, as I said at the beginning, someone who loves knowledge is a philosopher and that’s what we can all be and we should be; because it is our call as human beings. If we want to save the world, we don’t need gadgetry, we need to be what we are: human beings.
Cassandra’s legacy by Ugo Bardi
17 Comments on "There is only one culture: bringing back science into the fold of humanism"
penury on Sun, 18th Dec 2016 4:12 pm
We need to aquaint people with the fact that science is only a facet of the world. True science as defined has contributed immense benefits on humans and horrible consequences on the eco system of the planet. Wgat we need is to learn to use science, inventiveness and knowledge to improve the lives for all species on the planet. My version of the impossible dream for today.
Sissyfuss on Sun, 18th Dec 2016 7:17 pm
Clog would never settle for humanism unless it had a white supremacist heading. Can’t wait for his backward looking historical summation. Actually I can.
onlooker on Sun, 18th Dec 2016 7:23 pm
Humanism outlook with technology spells disaster as witnessed by our current plight. We need to feel we are just one part of a whole and we need to feel humility and be less arrogant about our capabilities
joe on Sun, 18th Dec 2016 10:58 pm
Muslims will be worlds greatest scientists. Once they take over the Earth and there is no last day of judgment, the jihadists will (as usual) reinterpret the koran and say they need to build mosques on mars and jupiter because god meant the truth to apply universally….
Simon on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 5:33 am
To be Fair humanism is subjective so Clog is (in his opinion) a humanist.
Cloggie on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 6:10 am
There is only one culture: bringing back science into the fold of humanism
Wrong. Instead we should begin to protect the DNA that is able to produce science (and High Art) in the first place.
Europeans have Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Rembrandt, Monet, Vermeer, Michelangelo plus the foundations of science and great architecture.
Americans, a European off-shoot, have Johnny Cash and Norman Rockwell.
And than literally the music stops:
http://www.counter-currents.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/BwnCM9OCYAAJfu9-1-e1449202145292.png
(From Charles Murrow, fellow of the AEI)
Here Charles Murray thinking that “white America is coming apart”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVskhzJR6NU
Wonder if these views where certified by the real leadership of the AEI, probably not.
And if “white America will come apart”, it is only a matter of time before the (violins please) “European Mother Civilization” will come apart as well.
Can’t have that.
According to Ugo Bardi, who never stops talking about Jews (wonder why that is), we should concentrate on humanism and human rights.
Beg to differ. If we continue on the path as promoted by Bardi et al, there will be no human substratum to carry science (and higher civilization) in the first place.
My counter advice would be:
Dump Jeezass
Dump human rights
Concentrate on Antiquity
Happy Yuletide!
https://redice.tv/red-ice-tv/the-myth-behind-the-yule-celebration
Simon on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 6:39 am
Hi Cloggie
I would take umbrage at the assertion that Europe has some unique DNA strands that allow us to contribute more.
For one thing north americans are mostly Europeans, just geographically removed.
the Second is that we are all dwarfs standing on the back of giants, thus by definition (The USA founded in 1776ish)could not have been there for the nibelungen
For someone grounded in antiquity you must agree that the artificial distinction between Art and Science is a strange modern concept, after all the first steam engine was developed to offer libations.
Human rights are … malleable, ask the people of Syria.
I agree about antiquity, however we disagree about Christianity, you see Christianity/Judaism as ‘making a Ferrari run on an inderior road’, I see this as fitting the Ferrari with traction control and ABS brakes, lets face it, us Europeans also lead the world in horror, we need someone to reign us in.
Simon
Cloggie on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 8:38 am
Concentrate on Antiquity
https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motorcycle-Maintenance-Inquiry/dp/0060589469/ref=sr_1_1
thus by definition (The USA founded in 1776ish)could not have been there for the nibelungen
Absolutely true, but I never waste the opportunity for a little provocation left and right, just to sex up the discussion.
you see Christianity/Judaism as ‘making a Ferrari run on an inferior road’
It was rather “trying to run a Ferrari on lemonade rather than gas”… but it comes close.
But to skip the sarcasm… the point I want to make is to warn against excessive self-denial. We (Europeans world-wide) made the problem, unintentionally; but we are also the (only) ones who detect the problem and the (only) ones taking the lead in trying to solve the problems, if that’s possible at all.
Dredd on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 8:59 am
“maybe we teach too little science to our children, maybe too much”
The science problem in the U.S.eh? is with powerful adults, not with children (Watch The Ice Shelves – 4).
Simon on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 9:21 am
Cloggie
I love Zen .. brilliant discussion about art and dialect vs sophist philosophy, second book, not so good.
I totally agree about the self denial, there are problems coming which will require brutal solutions, I guess the one good thing about having beaurocrats running the EU is that they will make the hard calls (not needing public sanction), I just hope we don’t leave it to late.
Apneaman on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 11:10 am
Clogtatd, Europe also gave the world, Fascism, Communism the Reformation and Nutella (evil shit). Bring back the Eurotard good ole days.
And don’t forget there would have been no, so called, Renaissance without all the ideas, knowledge and inventions the Crusaders and brought back from the Muslim world (some via the Chinese and Indians) and all the ancient learnings of the Greeks that the eurotards could not be bothered to preserve.
And to expand on Simon’s thoughts, Europeans are just Africans geographically removed with their melanin switch turned off.
Christianity is on the Eurotards too since a European Monarch made it official and the Catholic church was modelled on Roman state hierarchy. Before that it was just one more obscure version (jew) of the mystery cult’s floating around at the time.
Think of all the killing and torture you people have done in the name of a Jesus. A guy that there is no contemporary evidence for him even existing.
BTW, all your nationalism and unscientific cultural and racial superiority claims are just another religion.
Cloggie on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 11:21 am
Bring back the Eurotard good ole days.
And who says that? Somebody who suggests that he is 75% Mongol and 25% Ukrainian?
What’s so great about Mongols anyway. Attila? Horses? Mass rape? The largest auto-genocide in world history under Mao?
And what music do you have on offer? Science? Art? Forget it, rhetorical.
Or claims that Vancouver was built by the Chinese (they only took it over from Anglo-Christian fools)?
Apneaman on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 12:06 pm
clogtard, if I am a Mongol, I would be the first 6′ 220lb blond haired blue eyed (handsome too) Mongol in history. Genghis Khan was the most successful environmentalist in history and that’s why he is my hero. I would think that given the millions of muslims he ordered slaughtered you would be a fan too.
“And what music do you have on offer? Science? Art?”
Same as you – Fuck All. Unless you have released an album, composed an opera, painted a masterpiece or have a scientific discovery under your belt and you can prove it. See, those are all personal accomplishments and there is no “we”. You don’t get to take any credit for the accomplishments of others who died centuries ago just because you happened to get shit out in the same geographical area as them. The only people who make these “we” did this and “we” gave the world that claims are unaccomplished insecure coattail riding losers. Ever notice that on a music sheet it says composed by Mozart and not composed by “us”? Painters sign their work with their names not their country of birth right? Did you ever wonder what the people who did the work think of those like you trying to take their credit?
So what is your great contribution to Holland old man? Living high on the welfare state while trying to stir up hate in others. Get a revolution going while you sit in your safe comfortable home watching your pension cheques get directly deposited into your bank account. You are just another over privileged, useless eater, boomer who had more opportunity than any generation in history and before you go you want to see the blood spilled and heads roll. It won’t cure your lifetime of anger and disappointment. You’re not all that different than the other self important old white men like Trump, Soros, John Mccain, etc. Lived spoiled lives and fucked things up royally for the generations coming up behind you and not finished yet eh? Y’all just need to go away and die and let the young manage the mess you left as best they can for however many semi normal years they have left. I hope there is a revolution. A millennial revolution whose mandate is to end boomer power and lives.
Cloggie on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 12:17 pm
if I am a Mongol, I would be the first 6′ 220lb blond haired blue eyed (handsome too) Mongol in history.
But you still refuse to reveal your real background, but in the mean time attack other forum participants on their ethnic identity, like Dutch.
Coward.
P.S. hansom guys don’t have to jerk themselves off three times a day as you say you do. The only one interested in you is your right hand.
P.S.2 You wouldn’t be the first:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/l6RwZcethUw/hqdefault.jpg
P.S.3 But that 25% Ukrainian you don’t deny.
Simon on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 1:00 pm
Apnea
We are rather good at the destruction of our fellow man, for various reasons.
Actually the renaissance was a cross pollenisation(sp) of Byzantine ideas with western, this was after the disastrous 4th Crusade.
As for Europeans being Africans, that’s like saying Oil is a renewable resource, if the timescale is big enough, yes, but really a facile argument.
Actually the adoption of Christianity was a foregone conclusion, basically recognising a fact on the ground, the organisation was imperial (not based on). It was an emporer (Justinian I believe), scarily for Cloggie google the last prophecy from Delphi.
As a secular argument, pushing killing as a bad thing is rather odd, don’t you think.
On the whole I agree with you Apnea, I don’t think stirring is helpful, however all ranting aside, we in the EU are on the front line, and there are questions we need to ask, and to a large extent we may need to redefine our ethical/humanism to survive
Rationalisation is more important than sex
Apneaman on Mon, 19th Dec 2016 2:18 pm
Clogtard, how do you know that handsome guys don’t have to jerk off? Spend a lot of time talking to handsome guys about masturbation do you? An expert on it are we? Besides it’s not so much a matter of “have to” as “want to”.
Sometimes I use my left hand….. that way it feels like someone else is stroking me. Other times, I wrap my arm behind my back and between my legs because that way it looks like someone else is jacking me off. I like to fuck the couch cushions too…….gotta watch out for the zipper though.
Cloggie on Tue, 20th Dec 2016 2:34 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0wqM_tAmFs