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Humans are artifact adoring artisans

Humans are meme (idea) adoring creators.

Humans create symbols (abstract ideas) upon which they place value sufficient for killing and dying.

Americans create a flag (an artifact of cloth) which symbolizes the value they place in a nation (artifact, idea, meme) for which they will really kill and die (nothing artificial here).

Humans require meaningful symbols upon which to give life sufficient purpose for living, dying, and killing.

Because humans can create their own meaningful artifacts why does our species place meaning into such dangerous artifacts (memes, ideologies) as religion, nation, capitalism, communism, etc?

The freedom we have to create that which is meaningful to us is poorly used, why?

Why do we waste such a precious freedom on such dangerous toys?

We do so because we lack the courage (self-reliance) to go against the flow.

Our adaptation to society as infants and children has left us without the courage and confidence required to go against the flow of society. We have the freedom but not the energy and courage to overcome the blind habit of conformity.

We are not determined atoms; we do have the potential to do much better. How can we overcome what we have become and thus become something better?

We can overcome our present predicament by creating a new reality, a new set of meaningful symbols that we choose to give value.

Imagination is the instrument by which we can overcome.

That is why we created a writing system, symbols to put meaning to vocal sounds and meanings. You have just used this in your post, by writing it.

chonsigirl;617229 wrote: That is why we created a writing system, symbols to put meaning to vocal sounds and meanings. You have just used this in your post, by writing it.


The alphabet makes a pretty good symbol system.

Pinky says--"Luckily, learning tends to happen in the form of discussion and questioning, getting students to form their own ideas and share them. They're being encouraged to think for themselves."

I hope that your statement is correct. I never see any evidence of that. I am aware that in the US many schools and colleges have begun to teach CT (Critical Thinking) but I never see any reason to believe that it is working.

I read an article recently about teens and their addiction to text messaging. I suspect that that will kill any possibility of young people developing any thinking or writing skills.

coberst;617226 wrote: Humans are artifact adoring artisans

Humans are meme (idea) adoring creators.

Humans create symbols (abstract ideas) upon which they place value sufficient for killing and dying.

Americans create a flag (an artifact of cloth) which symbolizes the value they place in a nation (artifact, idea, meme) for which they will really kill and die (nothing artificial here).

Humans require meaningful symbols upon which to give life sufficient purpose for living, dying, and killing.

Because humans can create their own meaningful artifacts why does our species place meaning into such dangerous artifacts (memes, ideologies) as religion, nation, capitalism, communism, etc?

The freedom we have to create that which is meaningful to us is poorly used, why?

Why do we waste such a precious freedom on such dangerous toys?

We do so because we lack the courage (self-reliance) to go against the flow.

Our adaptation to society as infants and children has left us without the courage and confidence required to go against the flow of society. We have the freedom but not the energy and courage to overcome the blind habit of conformity.

We are not determined atoms; we do have the potential to do much better. How can we overcome what we have become and thus become something better?

We can overcome our present predicament by creating a new reality, a new set of meaningful symbols that we choose to give value.

Imagination is the instrument by which we can overcome.


Like what Coberst?

Zink...

It seems to me that we agree generally on the problems that exist in our present situation. The question I would like to focus upon is what can be done to make things better in the long run. What can be started now that will eventually lead to a world where dialogue trumps war?

I think that dialogue becomes an important prospect only if our world level of intellectual sophistication is greatly enhanced. We are in the present situation because few citizens comprehend why we do what we do.

Of course increasing the intellectual sophistication of the world is a job for centuries but we can begin to take the first step. The first step is for individuals who recognize the problem to begin the process of becoming self-actualizing self-learners.

The type of comprehension required to become critical individuals in critical societies will not be found in our present day educational institutions. Our educational institutions are designed to prepare students to become efficient producers and consumers. Our present educational institutions are designed to invigorate the status quo and not to create critical thinking citizens.

Our first step is to convince adults to become self-actualizing, self-learning, independent, and critical thinking citizens.

Americans create a flag (an artifact of cloth) which symbolizes the value they place in a nation (artifact, idea, meme) for which they will really kill and die (nothing artificial here).


This statement cracked me up. Every other line in the OP refers to humans... except for the Americans. Have we decided they are a different breed?

coberst;617888 wrote: Zink...

It seems to me that we agree generally on the problems that exist in our present situation. The question I would like to focus upon is what can be done to make things better in the long run. What can be started now that will eventually lead to a world where dialogue trumps war?

I think that dialogue becomes an important prospect only if our world level of intellectual sophistication is greatly enhanced. We are in the present situation because few citizens comprehend why we do what we do.

Of course increasing the intellectual sophistication of the world is a job for centuries but we can begin to take the first step. The first step is for individuals who recognize the problem to begin the process of becoming self-actualizing self-learners.

The type of comprehension required to become critical individuals in critical societies will not be found in our present day educational institutions. Our educational institutions are designed to prepare students to become efficient producers and consumers. Our present educational institutions are designed to invigorate the status quo and not to create critical thinking citizens.

Our first step is to convince adults to become self-actualizing, self-learning, independent, and critical thinking citizens.


I don't think more intellectual sophistication is require unless you are implying all wars are started by dumb people. Is critical thinking required? Yes, absolutley, I say question everything including the physical reality of your world. I don't think there is any great mystery to why we act the way we do. We act the way we do because we want to. We are selfish and we want our needs met. That behavior starts with the individual and progresses up to the nation state. We don't really care that much about our fellow travellers. We will tolerate them if they do not interfer with our getting what we want, or we simply cannot overcome them. Otherwise we kill them and move on. The killing is not necessarily physical. Character assasination often works just as well. So no, the answer is not more sophistication. The answer is finding another way to look at everything and changes our lives completely. Good luck with that.

I was really interested in what your view of the alternative symbol set was that we should invest our value.

koan;617891 wrote: This statement cracked me up. Every other line in the OP refers to humans... except for the Americans. Have we decided they are a different breed?


No Americans are just like all other humans, even though many of them think that they are superior. I guess that might be true of any nation.

Zink..

The different artifacts would be the things that a more sophisticated population must decide.

This post to me is a mish-mash of opinions, which I assume in this case to belong to the OP, statements emanating from the same, which is very good; and questions - perhaps rhetorical - are answers solicited?

coberst;618374 wrote: Zink..

The different artifacts would be the things that a more sophisticated population must decide.


hmmm. maybe doorknobs then?:D