726: The 20th Century has begun....

Nowadays you can barely imagine how radical the development of modernism was in the early 1900s. 

   

Everyone who now lives has grown up in the scientific world, many people only know life in the city, and rapid change is the only change there is. 

  

Only a minority still lives in close contact with the country or nature. At the beginning of the 20th century, this was all different. 

  

For a lot of people, the big city was still a relatively new experience. Social security systems were not there yet 

   

and the misery and poverty were so massive that the cities had a much more sombre look than today 

   

and the fundamental scientific discoveries that accompanied the new world reinforced the feeling that all old certainties had disappeared.

    

Probably these kinds of feelings were never as strong and widespread as before then. 

   

The decline of religion was but one of the elements of this landslide in the world of experience: 

   

the growth of nationalism, anti-Semitism and racial theories in general, and the enthusiastic embrace of modernism in art were all reactions to the same developments. 

   

The biggest paradox, the most terrifying transformation was this: according to the evolution theory, the natural development process proceeds with the speed of changing ice ages. 

   

According to modernism, everything suddenly changed, and fundamentally, almost overnight. 

  

So most people experienced it as much of a threat as a promise. In the beauty it offered, there was a core of horror.

   

More than ten years ago I already delivered a lecture with the title "Prelude to the 20th century"

The fun is that  I can repeat my words of those days, for what I was talking about was the philosophers who stood on the threshold of 1900.

   

What I then wanted to teach you was this...

   

An issue, which easily would escape our attention but which is important for understanding developments in philosophy, is psychology.      William James reminded me of it, for he was professor of psychology and philosophy.    In 1816 Johann Friedrich Herbart published his "Lehrbuch zur Psychologie"...Text-book on Psychology.     He was a philosopher, even lectured in Köningsberg as a successor of Immanuel Kant.      But psychology, still a part of philosophy then, became gradually an independent science.       James, who lived from 1842 to 1910 was a contemporary of Sigmund Freund, who was only 14 years younger than James.     And today I see with a smile these two philosophers at our door...William James and Henri Bergson.    In fact we do not need to dedicate a lecture to these two, for they already were discussed ten years ago. William James here:  http://www.herman-bergson.nl/P01/Project001.html     and Henri Bergson here: http://www.herman-bergson.nl/P01/Project001.html    The Discussion [13:41] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman. [13:42] CB Axel: And now I need to leave. I'll see you on Thursday. °͜° [13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): suggestion....maybe we can ring the bell if you go too fast, instead after eacht line [13:42] herman Bergson: Be well CB [13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): bye CB [13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu CB [13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡ [13:42] herman Bergson: Good  suggestion Beertje :-) [13:43] herman Bergson: Maybe even better... [13:43] herman Bergson: Bell means....PAUSE [13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes [13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :) [13:43] bergfrau Apfelbaum: good Idea Beertje :-) [13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i can imagine that woman and men were afraid of the changes in the ealry 1900 [13:43] bergfrau Apfelbaum: i am distracted by the bell. when i read, i think about the content of the text:-) [13:44] herman Bergson: Yes Bergie....got a point there [13:44] bergfrau Apfelbaum: but the idea to slow Herman down is good :-)) [13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes that was my point too [13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡ [13:44] herman Bergson: So...the bell means...Hold on...give us a minute :-) [13:44] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes [13:45] herman Bergson: very good... [13:45] bergfrau Apfelbaum: or 30 seconds:-) [13:45] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): or 15 [13:45] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :)) [13:45] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yes :-) [13:46] herman Bergson: ok then,., that is settled :-)) [13:48] bergfrau Apfelbaum: i am also afraid of change when I think of Trump [13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sad development indeed he brings [13:48] herman Bergson: Yes Bergie....what this man is destroying.... [13:49] herman Bergson: the whole fabric of international trust [13:49] bergfrau Apfelbaum: he even brings evil thoughts in my head. against him .. kill and so [13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): imagine that your child is taken from you to live behind bars [13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it gives me shivers [13:49] herman Bergson: Beertje that is beyond debate.... [13:50] herman Bergson: that this happens in a civilized country like the US...unbelievable [13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): agree [13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): trump is a monster [13:51] herman Bergson: And they justify it by quoting Paul, Roman 13 [13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): the US isn't civilized anymore [13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its just who have the most money [13:51] herman Bergson: I agree Beertje.. [13:51] herman Bergson: Indeed Bejiita... [13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Fuck money, be nice i say [13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that is true status [13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least what i connect to it, someone to look up to and like [13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): what will happen next to the world? [13:53] herman Bergson: It is becoming a sad story... [13:53] herman Bergson: Yes, my question too Beertje [13:54] herman Bergson: Oh...one thing.... [13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): there is another Kennedy to start up campagne [13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): moving backward, not forward [13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe he can save the situation [13:54] herman Bergson: China will not give in in this trade tariffs war.... [13:54] herman Bergson: It will fight to get the US to its knees [13:55] herman Bergson: that is my opinion [13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes a North Korea too [13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Japan too [13:55] herman Bergson: To loose face is an impossibility for a Chinese [13:55] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) is online. [13:56] Ciska Riverstone: next might be that the better educated us folks leave the country... [13:56] herman Bergson: where to Ciska? [13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Europa? [13:57] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Australië? [13:57] Ciska Riverstone: wherever [13:57] Ciska Riverstone: but I expect that to happen any time soon [13:57] Ciska Riverstone: maybe gb [13:57] Quistis Shippe is offline. [13:57] Ciska Riverstone: and maybe they will be happy about it [13:58] Ciska Riverstone: it might be what the brits need right now [13:58] herman Bergson: A brain drain.... [13:58] Ciska Riverstone: highly educated folks [13:58] Ciska Riverstone: to get through their euro crises [13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): without money no one can leave the us [13:58] Ciska Riverstone: its thought to be a scientist in the usa atm [13:59] herman Bergson: Well...an interesting moment in history now... [13:59] Ciska Riverstone: well the question is if  gb sees that potential [13:59] Ciska Riverstone: and does something with it [13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah [13:59] Ciska Riverstone: totally herman [13:59] herman Bergson: Will Trump survive another 12 months??? [13:59] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes and more :(( [13:59] Ciska Riverstone: the problem is [13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (horrible thought) [13:59] herman Bergson: My bet is.....NO [13:59] Ciska Riverstone: the other guy is even worse [13:59] herman Bergson: doesn't matter [13:59] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): which other guy? [14:00] herman Bergson: Pence [14:00] herman Bergson: Vice president... [14:00] Ciska Riverstone: yes - I always put the name out of my consciousness instantly [14:00] Ciska Riverstone: the only good thing about him might be [14:00] Ciska Riverstone: that he is easily controlled [14:00] Ciska Riverstone: the question is only [14:00] Ciska Riverstone: who will control him [14:00] herman Bergson: But don't worry....he is easier to control by the system... [14:00] Ciska Riverstone: (apart from his wife) [14:01] Ciska Riverstone: same thought Herman [14:01] herman Bergson: he isnt such ego centric narcist like Trump [14:01] Ciska Riverstone: no of course not [14:01] herman Bergson: he is closer to a human being [14:01] Ciska Riverstone: he is the co-dependent part [14:01] Ciska Riverstone: but that means that he is easily controlled yes [14:02] Ciska Riverstone: so psychologically an interesting situation if it would not be in the white house [14:02] Ciska Riverstone: with tons of lives on stake [14:02] herman Bergson: yes [14:02] Quistis Shippe is online. [14:02] herman Bergson: So keep your fingers crossed...and I'll dismiss class :-) [14:03] herman Bergson: Thank you all again..:-) [14:03] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :) [14:03] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman