As for the 20th century being controlled by fools and madmen, again, no disagreement
I only said they were represented; not that they controlled the Board.
the parents who fight traffic to get home, to get the kids to soccer, to fight traffic to get home, etc
Yes, fighting traffic is possibly a strong argument for the intense suffering that modern living impels us to...
Yes, medical advances have extended our lives. Do we lead happier, more fulfilling lives than those 200 years ago
To begin with, the average life expectancy was about 37 years (incredible, eh?), and the average work week was 80 hours. As far as medical advantages--well, I suppose they had those too!
Is science and reason good?
I won't belabor this point, as I have covered it before; but yes, I do believe that morality equates with rational thought. Rational thought leads to the appreciation that self interest is best furthered in a community where cooperation, consideration, courtesy, and respect are default behaviours.
All value judgements involve choices. Whether the moral choice is simply the thought that, "I will obey Mommy, Jehovah, the Policeman", or whatever--it is still our thought. All morality is authored by the individual. His behaviour comes from whatever he/she chooses to believe. Superstitious thinking may lead to a Manson. Irrational thinking based on absurd premises may lead to a Hitler.
What is the goal of our reasoning? To bring the entire world into alignment with the thought processes of the perverted USA with its violence, inhumanity, selfish indulgence, excesses?
Well said. I think the goal ought to be to take ourselves beyond those characteristics, eh Papaya. That would be the more reasonable thing to do, right?
What or where is your utopian society?
I don't know, Papaya. The concept is enigmatic. It is clear to me that both individuals and collectives require need, deficiency, uncertainty and tension as a prerequisite for meaning and happiness. We just need to have it in a bit more moderation (said with slight sarcasm). And of course there is the question of justice... |
