534: The New Project Kick Off

Welcome to you all…nice to see you again. I hope, that you enjoyed our summer break as much as I did. But leisure time is over….

A new project with the title “Why Science is Right”. A title can be telling and thence you may conclude, that I already take a stand from the very beginning.

There you are right and I challenge the rest of the world to question my point. Ok, you are smiling now….those are big words.

This project is meant to investigate, whether these are big words indeed or not. What is really science? How should we look at science? How relates science to reality? Is science describing THE reality? What position does science take in our society?

Tons of questions, that can keep us busy. But I had a particular reason to choose this subject at this moment. And here I mean, that it is the moment after the project on non Western philosophies.

The more we delved into this topic, the more emphatically became for me one question: Why did it only occur in Europe…. the development of science?

At least to me - and you may have a different opinion - it is a clear fact, that our world is dominated and shaped by the science and technology  which has developed in Europe since 1650.

And that's my great amazement. None of the non Western philosophies have seen the same development as we have seen since Descartes.

They all eventually focused on the moral aspects of human life. Take Chinese philosophy… it never got any further than confucianism or taoism or buddhism.

And here you already can jump me…. What do you mean by “FURTHER?” Isn’t that an expression of that ethnocentric, complacent, typical Western attitude, which imagines that Western culture did it so much better than other cultures?

Such an observation already implies a tremendous amount of philosophical questions about, for instance, answering the question “What is the right or best way of existence for the homo sapiens?”

To be honest, I’ll ignore this line of reasoning. For one thing, because it would lead to a completely different project and for another thing, because I take the stand that science IS right. And I want to show you in this project, what I mean by that.

It doesn’t mean at all that through history other non Western cultures have been pretty dumb at the end. On the contrary! The Chinese developed a lot of knowledge in astronomy, medicine. They even invented gunpowder and used it for fireworks and warfare.

But the main emphasis in their philosophy seemed to have been on personal and social control as the most important thing to think about.

An even more puzzling observation is, that the Arabic world long before Europe was that such a level, was master in astronomy and mathematics. A lot of that knowledge has come to Europe around 1100 and later.

In the meantime the Arabic world was well aware of the basics of a scientific approach of reality. Aristotle’s writings were well known and even came through the Arab route to Europe.

However, the Arabic world became the Islamic world, which means that since 632 A.D. they have fought about the question who was the true successor of Mohammed and who gives the right interpretation of the Q’uran.

They seem to be still fighting about those questions over there and even willing to literally cut your throat, if you happen to belong to a group that upholds the wrong interpretation of the Q’uran or worse, are not a believer at all.

By the fifth century B.C.E. great social change was taking place in India and a period of intense intellectual activity came into being. Taxila was a center of scientific education with the first university like educational institute.

Rational inquiry into a wide range of topics was under way, including agriculture, architecture, astronomy, grammar, law, logic, mathematics, medicine, phonology, and statecraft.  

But none of the before mentioned worlds of philosophy and science developed a philosophy and science about reality, nature and existence as emerged in Europe.

Yet, this philosophy and science shaped the world as it is now and against this historical background I just what to know what is so specific about the scientific mind and its workings. I hope, that it might interest you too.

Thank you… and a happy New Year in The Philosophy Class:-))

The Discussion

[13:20] Hermine: lol

[13:20] Beertje Beaumont: thank you Herman

[13:20] ZANICIA Chau: thank you Herman

[13:20] herman Bergson: The floor is yours :-)

[13:20] Gemma Cleanslate: goodness

[13:20] Ciska Riverstone: thank you herman

[13:20] LadyTrudy: hmm very interesting

[13:20] LadyTrudy: thank you Herman

[13:20] Gemma Cleanslate: looks like an interesting time

[13:21] Lizzy Pleides: Thank you Professor, this is an interesting theme again

[13:21] Gemma Cleanslate: do we have to agree with you at the end??

[13:21] ZANICIA Chau: hehee

[13:21] Gemma Cleanslate:  why science was right?

[13:21] Ciska Riverstone: hahaha gemma

[13:21] herman Bergson: Thank you....I hope to make it come true indeed

[13:21] Beertje Beaumont: lol Gemma

[13:21] Gemma Cleanslate: yes

[13:21] Gemma Cleanslate: ♥ LOL ♥

[13:22] Hermine: We all must find our own answers at the end of this lesson i guess

[13:22] herman Bergson: No Gemma on the contrary....

[13:22] Gemma Cleanslate: or more questions as usual

[13:22] herman Bergson: At the end you should have a clear judgement about the answer yourself

[13:22] Hermine: yes or we have more questions than at the beginning^^^

[13:22] Gemma Cleanslate: always do

[13:22] Gemma Cleanslate: that is why we cant graduate

[13:23] herman Bergson: At least I hope to show you to what extend science is right, in my opinion

[13:23] Lizzy Pleides: at least, it brings us a lot of informations

[13:23] Gemma Cleanslate: yes

[13:23] herman Bergson: Indeed Hermine...I really hope, that yuo have more questions at the end

[13:23] Gemma Cleanslate: i have forgotten more than i ever learned

[13:24] herman Bergson: That is why I keep studying, Gemma...I too forget most of it

[13:25] Gemma Cleanslate: yes

[13:25] herman Bergson: When I leave through the blog I can’t believe it was me who wrote all those lectures :-)

[13:25] Hermine: So we have always new things, even when we heard them klong ago;-)

[13:25] Hermine: So life is never boring 4 us.

[13:26] herman Bergson: So true Hermine ...never a dull moment here :-)

[13:27] Hermine: (°°)--))

[13:27] herman Bergson: Nice to see you all here at this new start....

[13:27] Gemma Cleanslate: ☆*¨¨*<♥*''*BEJIITA!!! *''*<♥:*¨¨*☆

[13:27] Gemma Cleanslate: too bad missed it

[13:27] Gemma Cleanslate: i am sure he will come

[13:27] Gemma Cleanslate: and qwark also later

[13:27] Gemma Cleanslate: when he can

[13:28] herman Bergson: Yes....let's not begin to worry about that....may have a normal reason.....not a Qwark like one

[13:28] Hermine: perhaps longer holidays^^^

[13:28] Gemma Cleanslate: maybe

[13:28] herman Bergson: We may envy him for that :-))

[13:28] Gemma Cleanslate: he has not been on a lot lately

[13:28] ZANICIA Chau: So, Herman, why should it puzzle you that historically, non europeans put a priority on human-nature development? They were obviously aware that scientific things were and would develop alongside natural development. Surely it is just a matter of priorities? (sorry long comment, difficult to shorten)

[13:29] Gemma Cleanslate: ♥ LOL ♥

[13:29] Gemma Cleanslate: i was afraid to get into the meat of it today

[13:29] herman Bergson: Interesting remark ZANICIA....

[13:29] Gemma Cleanslate: i was thinking about it

[13:29] herman Bergson: And I can answer you there....

[13:30] herman Bergson: The point is that this world is shaped ...not by those philosophies ...but by those developed in Europe...

[13:30] herman Bergson: This whole globe!

[13:30] herman Bergson: In all areas of life...

[13:30] herman Bergson: medicine, technology, education...and so on....

[13:31] herman Bergson: The Russians had the A-bomb because the West developed it....

[13:31] Lizzy Pleides: and now we are all afraid of it

[13:31] herman Bergson: Like Pakistan stole the technology by using a Dutch -pakistani engineer...

[13:32] herman Bergson: Yes Lizzy...that is exactly what I mean....

[13:32] Gemma Cleanslate: not happy thoughts

[13:32] herman Bergson: "We" created this world of science and technology......

[13:32] herman Bergson: Not too pessimistic Gemma...

[13:32] Ciska Riverstone: I think we did because its easier ;)

[13:33] ZANICIA Chau: The A-bomb epitomises how things went too far. like religious fanatacism. sorry all this bad spelling

[13:33] herman Bergson: I got 5 bypasses due to that same science and technology....!

[13:33] Gemma Cleanslate: I wonder how much the weather had to do with it

[13:33] Ciska Riverstone: a lot Gemma !

[13:33] Gemma Cleanslate: i think so

[13:33] Hermine: there are always 2 sides of the story^

[13:34] herman Bergson: That is it , Hermine....

[13:34] ZANICIA Chau: But human development isn't just the science

[13:34] ZANICIA Chau: ...and must take priority

[13:34] herman Bergson: No it isnt ZANICIA, but for a moment I wondered.....

[13:34] Gemma Cleanslate: no philosophies as we know

[13:34] Gemma Cleanslate: know even

[13:34] herman Bergson: is , what happened in Europe an evolutionary step of the brain????

[13:34] Gemma Cleanslate: but then to many philosophy is part of science

[13:34] Gemma Cleanslate: not outside of it

[13:35] Ciska Riverstone: no herman i think its a way of ignoring the human factor a bit

[13:35] herman Bergson: What do you mean Gemma?

[13:35] Lizzy Pleides: I have to go, TC all

[13:35] Ciska Riverstone: by concentrating on the surrounding

[13:35] Ciska Riverstone: take care Lizzy ㋡

[13:35] herman Bergson: That is a serious statement Ciska...

[13:35] herman Bergson: for it implies a kind of definition of being human....

[13:36] Ciska Riverstone: does it?

[13:36] Gemma Cleanslate: many consider philosophy as part of science

[13:36] herman Bergson: and then immediately you have to anser the question: Where did you get that definition from?

[13:36] ZANICIA Chau: (please just call me Zan. It's much easier to cope with). I was meaning...how people prioritise the definition of being human

[13:37] herman Bergson: Yes Zan :-)

[13:37] ZANICIA Chau: x x

[13:37] herman Bergson: That is what puzzles me....

[13:37] herman Bergson: And it is implied in the remark of Ciska, I think

[13:38] Beertje Beaumont: was it after the enlightening period after the dark ages?

[13:38] herman Bergson:  ♫♪♫♪ ♪♫♪♫   APPLAUSE    ♪♫♪♫ ♫♪♫♪ 

[13:38] herman Bergson: Bejiita !!! ^_^

[13:38] Bejiita Imako: hi all

[13:38] Ciska Riverstone: hey bejiita ㋡

[13:38] Gemma Cleanslate: hihi

[13:38] Beertje Beaumont: Bejiita!!

[13:38] Hermine: ey bejita

[13:38] Gemma Cleanslate: glad you got here anyway

[13:38] herman Bergson: You made us worry !

[13:38] Bejiita Imako: just came home, been out with some friends

[13:38] kevin67 Badger: Great discuss, but time for me to leave and go to bed (with a flu )

[13:38] kevin67 Badger: see you soon all :)

[13:38] herman Bergson: Oh dear...take care Kevin!

[13:38] ZANICIA Chau: aw get well soon

[13:38] Beertje Beaumont: tc Kevin

[13:38] Hermine: omg Kevin

[13:38] Ciska Riverstone: get better soon Kevin

[13:39] Hermine: too much information^^^

[13:39] Hermine: but get well soon^^^

[13:39] herman Bergson: Overheated, I guess!

[13:39] Hermine: lol

[13:39] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:39] Gemma Cleanslate: hope we dont catch it!!

[13:39] herman Bergson: But it is about priorities indeed!

[13:39] Gemma Cleanslate: the flu that is

[13:39] ZANICIA Chau: sniffles

[13:39] Bejiita Imako: the flu is not nice to get for sure

[13:40] herman Bergson: I hope it is only flu and not ebola....:-((

[13:40] Hermine: oh ha

[13:40] ZANICIA Chau: oh lor! haha

[13:40] Hermine: where does he live?

13:40] herman Bergson: I don’t want to know Hermine :-))

[13:40] ZANICIA Chau: far from me I hope!

[13:40] Beertje Beaumont: in your street Daruma

[13:40] ZANICIA Chau: just kiddin'

[13:40] Hermine: mh, its a looong street^^^

[13:41] Beertje Beaumont: next door then ???....

[13:41] herman Bergson: Could be indeed!

[13:41] Hermine takes some pills

[13:41] Beertje Beaumont: pils?.....lol

[13:41] Bejiita Imako: hehee

[13:41] herman Bergson: lol

[13:41] herman Bergson: Better medicine yes

[13:42] herman Bergson: Well....as you see....there are a lot of questions to answer...

[13:42] herman Bergson: Which of course we philosophers never do :-)))

[13:42] Gemma Cleanslate: ♥ LOL ♥

[13:42] Gemma Cleanslate: never

[13:42] Beertje Beaumont: ㋡

[13:42] Bejiita Imako: lol

[13:42] herman Bergson: We love the unanswered questions more :-)

[13:43] Hermine: yes and some shouldn’t be answered at anytime^^^

[13:43] herman Bergson: But to relate this to Bertrand Russell....

[13:43] ZANICIA Chau: that's why you are always puzzled!!!!!

[13:43] Hermine: its more interesting to seek the whole life 4 the answer^^^

[13:43] herman Bergson: He said.....

[13:43] LadyTrudy: I have to go...thank you for the questions :)

[13:43] herman Bergson: when a question gets answered it stops to be a philosophical question and moves to science

[13:43] ZANICIA Chau: aw bye bye for now

[13:44] Bejiita Imako: bye lady

[13:44] Hermine: but a scientist has to search 4 more even when he thinks it is answerde.

[13:44] Gemma Cleanslate: Bye, Bye  ㋡ 

[13:44] Gemma Cleanslate: zan

[13:44] Hermine: an answer is only a step to "the truth"

[13:44] herman Bergson: I guess I'd better be gentle with you all at this fist lecture of the new semester....

[13:45] ZANICIA Chau: I meant bye to Lady

[13:45] Hermine: ;-)

[13:45] herman Bergson: SO...thank you all for your participation again.....

[13:45] Beertje Beaumont: lol Zan

[13:45] HermineHermine claps

[13:45] Gemma Cleanslate: ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥

[13:45] ZANICIA Chau: hehe

[13:45] Gemma Cleanslate: hope to be here thursday

[13:45] Ciska Riverstone: thanx herman ㋡

[13:45] herman Bergson: It was a great kick off...

[13:45] ZANICIA Chau: Thanks again Herman

[13:45] Bejiita Imako: ok nice to see you all

[13:45] Hermine: thank u herman

[13:45] Bejiita Imako: ㋡

[13:45] Gemma Cleanslate: not bad for a first gathering

[13:45] Hermine: see u soon

[13:45] Bejiita Imako: cu

[13:46] Beertje Beaumont: till thursday every one:) goodnight for now

[13:46] Gemma Cleanslate: Bye, Bye  ㋡ 

[13:46] Bernadettie: Sorry I was late

[13:46] herman Bergson: See you all on Thursday again :-)

[13:46] Bejiita Imako: bye, cu thursday