On Friday 31 January 2003 4:56 pm, you wrote:
quoted 19 lines Now, you can change your perceptions with regard to what you value -> >Now, you can change your perceptions with regard to what you value -
> > you can have certian ethics and values - but the reality to which
> > you apply
> >them isn't different just because you want it to be.
> >
> >Quick and dirty example - just because many people in the 10th
> > Century in western Europe believed that Sol revolved around Terra
> > doesn't mean that it actually did...
>
> So how is it that you're so certain that we're 'correct' now? I know
> this guy who, quite literally, always has a Mythology book with him.
> I never really understood how he could enjoy old tales of non-sense
> so much, until I asked him. He said something to the effect that
> they give insight into the state of mind the people who created it
> had, and at the same time puts our own current 'Science' into
> perspective. In other words, Science is a wonderful and beautiful
> thing involving creativity, patience, persaverence, and coutless
> other virtuous traits, but it can also be defined as current
> Mythology.
I agree with that. Please note I never said we had all the answers or
that everything we think we know is absolutely correct. I love
mythology, I love history, I love fiction, etc.... I also love the
scientific method, which tends to make all of the former better, though
that's quite arguable with fiction :P
quoted 9 lines others do, but I wish such distractions would(n't) keep so many> >others do, but I wish such distractions would(n't) keep so many
> > bright, capable
> >individuals from realizing their potential and actually doing
> > something in life.
>
> I'm still trying to figure out what is worth doing. Honestly, I
> don't expect to make much progress within my life time, but the
> idea's of Wilson seem to have a well founded approach to them, and if
> conducted with caution I can't see how research is a bad thing.
Well we all have our own ideas of what is worth doing. I've only begun
to be an active person myself, for my first 25 years I've been little
more than a consumer. Now I'm trying to be a citizen and a friend and
a helper and many other things. I think the most worthwhile actions
are those that help others, but that's because I'm finding that most
fulfilling to myself. Really, "worth" is obviously a tricky concept,
and you should just do what fills you up....
If it's important to experiment with reality, then fine, do it, but
perhaps apply actual rigorous experimental methods to your efforts,
huh? Who was the guy who invented Ecstasy? He is truly a scientist...
-Adam
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