[MD] Mindwalk

[Ham Priday]

Hi Ian --


> Ham,
> I've had other correspndence on another forum about this
> oversimplification of the Descartes point .... but that is the very
> point. With hindsight through a veil of cultural history, we see a
> simplified (simplistic) caricature of many more subtle things
> Descartes, Newton Kepler (and Aristotle) said - who cares
> who "invented" science - it's an evolved imperfect accretion of
> many ideas - what matters is what is good?

Fair enough.  But the methodology of science is the acquisition of objective 
information by investigation, experimentation, and confirmation.  Descarte's 
claim to fame is his Cogito, 'I think, therefore I am.'  This was not 
acquired by objective investigation, but through subjective contemplation 
and intuitive intellection.  In fact, to develop this concept, he denied 
that anything could be validated except for himself.  Aristotle, Pythagoras, 
and the Stoics, on the other hand, looked for the essence of reality in 
objects, which led to the objective method of Kepler, Newton, Einstein, and 
scientists in general, at least prior to the advent of quantum physics.

> Secondly, you're bringing your own free-market prejudice
> to Sonja's position. (eg In your personal opinions about Sam
> and Liv as "liberals") Nowhere does she expect the "government"
> to "provide" the new vision. But by definition the government
> (of the people by the people) must have an interest in encouraging
> / nurturing the right kind of vision and values in the society it
> represents. Let's not confuse the "social vs individual" issue again.

I saw the philosophical theme of Mindwalk as holistic "inter-relatedness", 
which really doesn't apply to differentiated experience.  But it does apply 
to the notion of a collective society.  For me, Sonya's admonition that we 
must "stop the obsession with growth", using GM's profits as an example, was 
ingenuous and stood out like a sore thumb in this context.

Regards,
Ham