SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : The Castle
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Mary Cluney who wrote (4246)12/3/2004 12:15:40 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (1) of 7936
 
Actually it is all about science - and math is at the heart of everything.

There is no well established scientific or mathematical principle that leads strongly to the conclusion that human violence is going to disappear. Certainly there is no established principle or widely accepted theory that leads to the conclusion that a permanently non-violent situation is inevitable.

We may not be able to predict exactly when we can eliminate all forms of violence, but we can probably prove that violence can be eliminated. All we have to do is agree that:

1.) Violence is bad
2.) Violence is not necessary

1 - Violence is generally bad an not necessary, but not always.
2 - Even if WE (you and I, or maybe everyone reading this thread) agreed that hardly means everyone would agree.
3 - Even if everyone agreed that violence was bad an not necessary there is the simple fact that people sometimes do things that they think are bad and not necessary. Also even if everyone at one particular point in time felt this way there is no strong reason to think that from that point no one who didn't feel that way would come along.

I think those conditions are there and the process is on the way. The exact date (when violence approaches the limit of zero) will probably fall within some margin of error on some exponential curve.

Projecting a trend out forever is not really very scientifically rigorous. You can draw curve lines about many things, most of the time they don't accurately predict the future, or at least only predict it for a limited time.

Tim
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News