[MD] Reductionism

[MarshaV]

At 12:18 PM 6/11/2009, you wrote:
> >[Krimel]
> > That is groovy but not very helpful if one needs a fire for warmth or a
> > tree for Christmas decoration. All those dynamic alien properties are
> > spiffy and all, but the whole point of conceptualization is to dismiss the
> > irrelevant from the relevant in the given moment. The immediate present
> > contains system within systems and if we are to survive from one moment to
> > the next we need to focus on our relationships within those systems.
> > Concepts are filters that we cultivate over time to help us separate
> > what's important from what's not. In this case we are usually scanning for
> > dynamic foreground against a static background.
>
>[Marsha]
>First, what's that 'we' white man?
>
>[Krimel]
>Us, all of us with nervous systems sufficiently complex to manage it.

"Concepts are filters that we cultivate".  Concepts are filters that 
first the theologians and now the scientists "cultivate over time to 
help" themselves "separate what's important from what's not".



>[Marsha]
>And second, do you really believe this?
>
>[Krimel]
>Yes.
>
>[Marsha]
>Are you a tall bird with pretty feathers and your head in the sand?
>
>[Krimel]
>I don't think so. Are you a long necked giraffe with your head stuck up your
>own ass?
>
>[Marsha]
>Anybody starving in this scientific tech'd-up world?
>
>[Krimel]
>I am not sure why it matters but yes.

While you are busy patting yourself on the back, I notice many 
peoples (women and children) in the world are starving and dying, and 
many others (men) are fighting and killing each other for power to 
decide on which filters will define "reality".  The whole thing seems 
a failure.

I love the photos from the Hubble telescope, but are these missions 
in space and things like cyclotrons so important when our human 
relationships are such a disaster?




>[Marsha]
>Cockroaches have proved successful at survival, humans have proved nothing.
>
>[Krimel]
>What have cockroaches proved? What needs proving?


I thought you might decide to hawk the success of human survival (you 
have used that strategy before) and the idea of protecting your tribe.

I'm sure you are very kind to everyone you meet, a really great guy, 
but by some of the talk you seem to me to be scientifically arrogant 
and totally heartless.



Marsha




_____________

"He who neglects the present moment throws away all he has."
   (Friedrich von Schiller)