Tuesday, April 27, 2021

919: Identity Politics....

I have been in doubt about what to do: simply continue the theme of this project as planned or elaborate some more on the WOKE/ Cancel culture issue, which I addressed in the previous lecture.

   

Since the latter also relates to our current project I'll pay attention to the subject of Identity politics in this lecture .

     

Compelling identity politics has been around in the West, mainly the US, for quite some time and that has now also arrived in Europe. Why does it remain so quiet about this worrying development?

   

The American philosopher and sociologist Francis Fukuyama argues that the twentieth century was the century of economics in politics, 

    

a contest between a left defined through workers’ rights, social welfare, and robust redistribution, 

    

and the right’s drive to reduce government by shrinking the public sector and selling publicly owned services and replacing them with private market delivery. 

   

By contrast, he suggests, the twenty-first century has seen the left focus “less on creating broad economic equality 

   

and more on promoting the interests of a wide variety of marginalized groups, such as ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees, women, and LGBT people. 

   

The right, meanwhile, has redefined its core mission as the patriotic protection of traditional national identity, which is often explicitly connected to race, ethnicity, or religion” 

   

He states in his book "Identity" (2018) that in recent decades a movement has arisen of groups and subgroups that pretend to be understood by members of those same groups only. 

   

Is that a problem? Yes, certainly, and with far-reaching consequences. The aim of sharing people in identity groups, whereby every cultural expression can be traced to a class struggle, leaves virtually no room for the free individual.

    

What remains is a tribal identity thinking in which you as an individual have no independent existence, but exist at the grace of the specific group to which you belong.

    

An example: the Dutch poet and writer Marieke Lucas Rijneveld was asked by her publisher to translate the inauguration poem of the young, Afro-American poet Amanda Gorman.

   

She declined the invitation due to a storm of protests. The reason: a black young woman should be translated by a black young woman.

   

Another example: As reported in the Hull Daily Mail (UK), it said marking students down for poor spelling, grammar and punctuation in exams could be seen as "homogenous, North European, white, male, and elite".

   

Universities Minister Michelle Donelan told the House of Commons: "I am appalled by the decision of some universities to drop literacy standards in assessments."

   

In response to the criticism, a University of Hull spokesman said: "As a university, we are committed to removing barriers to learning, 

   

increasing social mobility and providing opportunities to students from all backgrounds.

    

"Inclusivity is one of our core values, and we firmly believe that everyone - regardless of their background - should have an opportunity to study and succeed."

   

Isn't it good to detect social inequality and to expose it? This is exactly the problem. 

  

What is crucial about the “identity” of identity politics appears to be the experience of the subject, 

  

especially their experience within social structures that generate injustice, and the possibility of a shared and more authentic or self-determined alternative.

   

But what identity politics or 'woke'-thinking ignore is, that subdividing people into groups actually increases distinction and polarity.

  

Another problem is that declaring groups and identities holy makes criticizing this impossible or at least extremely suspicious. 

  

It is a small step to argue, that this criticism is the result of 'white privilege' or unconscious racism, with which every critizism is already disqualified in advance.

  

While within this worldview of identity politics always the word 'Inclusivity' sounds, exclusion is in fact the rule.

  

We may praise us lucky in one respect. The current project about the history of knowledge, will not be told from the European, Western, white perspective. It will be multicultural.

     

Thank you for your attention again....

   


  

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Rens Bod: "Een Wereld vol Patronen".  2019


The Discussion

   

[13:20] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman

[13:21] herman Bergson: Some story, isn't it? :-))

[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed

[13:21] herman Bergson: But it is happening

[13:21] CB Axel: This is why Earth needs to be attacked by space aliens or zombies or something.

[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): seems to me that we as European can't do any good anymore

[13:22] CB Axel: A pandemic hasn't worked, but good old fashioned aliens might.

[13:22] herman Bergson: It is wider Beertje....all whites

[13:22] herman Bergson: It has its roots in American systemic racism, I think

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well im on Alien 2 at moment so soon maybee

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): was plowing through those

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that is rasism too

[13:23] herman Bergson: what is? Me saying this?

[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no, that whites can't do anything good

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but indeed grouping people after race, sex, social status ect

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): no good thing

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats obvious

[13:24] CB Axel: American racism has its roots in European racism, colonialism, and slavery.

[13:24] oola Neruda: yes

[13:24] herman Bergson: Indeed CB

[13:25] herman Bergson: But while racism was abolished in Europe the US kept it for instance in segregation alive untill 1963

[13:25] oola Neruda: the European caste system was imported with the Pilgrims

[13:25] herman Bergson: Like in South Afrika

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and its sadly still part of the us culture

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like police shooting black people on sight

[13:25] herman Bergson: But I agree that here in Europe we have racism too....but more covered up

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and similar awful things

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we are all the same, why cant we realize that

[13:26] herman Bergson: But maybe you shouldn't call it racism in the US context, but white supremacy thinking

[13:27] oola Neruda: agree

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): isnt that same thing

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well i guess it has to do with might and control

[13:27] herman Bergson: Like a Marjorie Taylor Green and her Anglo-Saxon culture

[13:29] herman Bergson: At least you could say that tis identity politics drives people apart and is polarizing in stad of uniting people

[13:29] CB Axel: She doesn't bother me as much as the people who elected her bother me.

[13:29] oola Neruda: I do not see Green as having anything logical to say

[13:29] oola Neruda: good point CB

[13:29] herman Bergson: I agree CB

[13:30] CB Axel: She seems insane to me.

[13:30] oola Neruda: yes... lol

[13:30] herman Bergson: We have the same problem here with extreme right wing parties...one even somewhat crypo fascist....

[13:30] herman Bergson: And what are the people who voted for her?

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like with Mr Ts supporters, Trump was a symptom of a much bigger problem, widespread hate and intolerance

[13:31] herman Bergson: He was indeed

[13:31] oola Neruda: and ignorance

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep

[13:31] CB Axel: One good thing Trump did was to flush those people out into the open.

[13:32] CB Axel: Like flushing birds from the bushes.

[13:32] herman Bergson: The message of today is at least to keep an eye on the development of this Identity politics in your country...

[13:32] CB Axel: We can shoot the birds, though.

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well that he did for sure

[13:32] oola Neruda: do they come out feeling endorsed as ok

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): esp during that mob, then we saw the true side of his gang

[13:33] herman Bergson: From our perspective we have to ask the question....do we see a pattern here

[13:33] CB Axel: You should be keeping an eye on the possibility of identity politics occurring in Europe, too.

[13:33] oola Neruda: YES'

[13:33] herman Bergson: and if so...is there an underlying principle

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a sad and problematic pattern i see

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but hopefully there is a change coming

[13:34] herman Bergson: That is what I meant CB

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): turning the curve around

[13:34] herman Bergson: everywhere

[13:34] CB Axel: That's right. Identify the pattern and look out for it everywhere.

[13:34] CB Axel: ^5

[13:34] herman Bergson: It isnt an exclusive American phenomenon these days

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): conclusion, bunching people into groups is a bad idea

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as said we are all the same

[13:35] CB Axel: The only race we should consider is the human race.

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its no we and them

[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): exactly

[13:35] herman Bergson: Like in the 1920....some refer to the underlying principle of reviving nationalism

[13:35] herman Bergson: and anti globalization trend

[13:36] herman Bergson: Like the Brexit was based on the wish to rule themselves....and not being ruled by the EU

[13:37] oola Neruda: good point

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes

[13:37] herman Bergson: Like we have a right wing party here which wanted the Netherlands for the Dutch again....

[13:37] herman Bergson: away with all the mosques

[13:38] herman Bergson: This kind of renewed nationalism you see in many European countries

[13:38] oola Neruda: fear of the unknown... and things they do not want to look into to understand

[13:38] CB Axel: It's more than that.

[13:38] herman Bergson: At least it must be based on some form of fear....the fear of loosing something

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess

[13:39] CB Axel: It's also wanting to control everything to create a country in their own image.

[13:39] Iמʞαʞů (inkaku.capalini) is offline.

[13:39] herman Bergson: Yes...that Anglo-Saxon country ...:-)

[13:39] CB Axel nods

[13:40] herman Bergson: And what about the Indians CB...the original "owners" of the land?

[13:40] oola Neruda: here... it seems like money and power are the goals.... even in the lowliest of possible situations... have to keep everyone in check and insure an income

[13:40] CB Axel: If they're going to discriminate like that why not pick between the Angles and the Saxons? Why both?

[13:41] herman Bergson: No idea CB...someone mayhave read it in a history book?

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed oola

[13:42] CB Axel: I doubt that the even know what Anglo-Saxon means except that it's white.

[13:42] herman Bergson smiles

[13:42] oola Neruda: you are either WITH US or you are AGAINST US

[13:42] herman Bergson: Good guess CB :-)

[13:42] herman Bergson: We have discussed it several times.....

[13:43] CB Axel: No, oola. You either are us or you're against us.

[13:43] herman Bergson: this inclination to binary thinking.....Us verses THEM, as oola said

[13:43] oola Neruda: subtle difference.. you are right

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we and them

[13:43] herman Bergson: Yes Not-US means against US

[13:44] oola Neruda: binary

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:44] herman Bergson: We are easily seduced to believe in an enemy

[13:44] herman Bergson: and politicians use that

[13:45] herman Bergson: the underlying principle of Identity politics....

[13:45] herman Bergson: everyone in its own bubble

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all fro himself and everyone around you is an enemy

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): selfishnes and egoism

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and a made up enemy

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): who does not exist

[13:46] herman Bergson: You forget that most people still are OK Bejiita ^_^

[13:46] oola Neruda: I wonder if the haughty activity is really a product of insecurity... a "what if" "they".... etc

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well thats true but

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): still as i see its stil a big issue

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): even iof i can sense a change

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): is comming

[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): people starts to realize things

[13:47] CB Axel: Sadly, the not-OK vote and, in the US, have guns.

[13:47] oola Neruda: what do i have to give up to be "equal"?

[13:47] herman Bergson: right oola

[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): mmm

[13:48] herman Bergson: and those guns in the US is a whole new chapter....

[13:48] oola Neruda: ick

[13:48] oola Neruda: shudder

[13:48] herman Bergson: with a little organization you can start a new civil war there with well armed armies

[13:49] oola Neruda: that is what the Proud Boys had in mind

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that would be disaster

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shudders)¨

[13:49] CB Axel: I think that's what a lot of people want. They're just looking for a leader like Trump or Q.

[13:50] oola Neruda: could be... really could

[13:50] CB Axel: Fortunately, Trump lacks the discipline to lead anything.

[13:50] herman Bergson: I guess it is about 25 to 30% CB

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes because hes an idiot

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so he fell on his own grip

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): no strategy, just boasting

[13:51] herman Bergson: Well...I guess you've got a lot to think about this weekend.....

[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess

[13:51] herman Bergson: Stay cheerful and in good spirits tho :-)

[13:51] oola Neruda: sigh

[13:51] herman Bergson: Thank you all again for your participation....

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman

[13:52] herman Bergson: Class dismissed.....

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe

[13:52] CB Axel: I will, but I'll also be praying for a zombie uprising to bring us all together. :)

[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): very interesting

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa

[13:52] herman Bergson: I prefer aliens CB

[13:52] CB Axel: OK. I could go for aliens.

[13:52] herman Bergson: Thank you :-))

[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:53] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ty Herman and class!

[13:53] herman Bergson: Been a Trekkie for such a long time :-)

[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)













 

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

918: WOKE and Cancel culture.....

There he stands, Jan Pieterszoon Coen (1587-1629),  proudly overlooking the market square in Hoorn, the Netherlands from his base.

   

What's he doing in our lectures, while we are discussing prehistoric times at the moment? The reason is WOKE and cancel culture.

  

You may, just like me, have heard these terms and have some vague idea of what it means. Last week however I read something, that showed me how serious this issue is.

  

WOKE and Cancel Culture are closely related. According to Wikipedia WOKE is a term that refers to awareness of issues that concern social injustice and racial justice. 

  

It is sometimes used in the African-American Vernacular English expression stay woke. 

  

Woke resurfaced in 2014 during the Black Lives Matter movement as a label for vigilance and activism concerning racial inequalities 

  

and other social disparities such as discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, women, immigrants and or other marginalized populations.

  

Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles, whether it be online, on social media, or in person. 

  

Those who are subject to this ostracism are said to have been "canceled" The expression "cancel culture" has mostly negative connotations and is commonly used in debates on free speech and censorship 

  

By the way, in Antiquity ostracism was a procedure under Athenian democracy in which any citizen could be expelled from the city-state of Athens for ten years. 

  

Now you may wonder what triggered my desire to present these themes today. What is the relation with the theme of our current project?

  

It was one striking WOKE interpretation of the ideas of a well-known philosopher: John Locke (1632 -1704) and his ideas about private property.

   

QUOTE - “Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has any right to but himself. The labor of his body, and the work of his hands, we may say, are properly his.” -END QUOTE -

  

So, if you see a piece of land that never has been worked on and you turn it into your field by hard labor, then this piece of land becomes your property.

   

This brings us to the question: WHO in fact OWNS this earth? Actually, nobody unless you create and define the concept of private property.

   

And here is the link to our current project. We just learned how the transition of hunter-gatherer to farmer created the phenomenon of private property.

  

But here is the other thing: Locke's political theory of government by the consent of the governed as a means to protect the three natural rights of “life, liberty and estate” deeply influenced the United States' founding documents.

   

It seems that at the moment the philosophers of the Enlightenment are under WOKE fire. They were not just the prophets of reason and rationality. Some also were racists and white supremacists, according to WOKE comments.

   

Some say that the Brits first and after them, the founding fathers used the ideas on private property of Locke to justify their claim on the land on the North American continent.

   

The Indians never put a shovel in the ground, while the settlers worked hard and plowed the land, which thus became their land. The Indians had to leave, based on Locke's concept of property..

   

Heidegger was a nazi supporter, Foucault had sex with young boys, Jan Pieterzoon Coen committed genocide on the island Banda in Indonesia. Therefore his statue should be removed. Should we cancel them all? 

   

I am not yet done with this debate. It is clear now what it is all about. It is also related to identity politics, which is emerging these days and thence increasing polarization.

  

But that would take us too far at this moment. It all needs more study, so let me thank you for your attention again...

  


  

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Rens Bod: "Een Wereld vol Patronen".  2019


The Discussion


[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman

[13:22] CB Axel: I've been thinking about this recently.

[13:22] herman Bergson: ti is really a serious issue...especially in the academic world.....

[13:22] CB Axel: I don't remember why, but I have been thinking about Christopher Columbus.

[13:22] herman Bergson: Use etnicity as one of the variables in your sociological research and the WOKE people nail you down as racist

[13:23] CB Axel: People want to tear down statues to him and stop celebrating Columbus Day as a holiday.

[13:23] herman Bergson: Yes...statues are supreme WOKE targets

[13:23] herman Bergson: Like the one behind me in the picture

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:23] CB Axel: I understand why. He started all the taking of land from the Native Americans and killing them off, but he was also a brave explorer.

[13:24] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but they are a part of history

[13:24] CB Axel: Is it possible to condemn the bad things a person does but still celebrate their accomplishments?

[13:24] herman Bergson: That is the problem....the woke people want to remove them from history in some way

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so basically that man created the wild west, Cowboyus vs indians

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Cowboys

[13:25] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we can't rewrite history

[13:25] CB Axel: Native Americans, btw, did farm.

[13:25] herman Bergson: THAT is THE QUESTION CB

[13:25] herman Bergson: I guess some did, but not all????

[13:25] CB Axel: They taught the Europeans how to plant corn with a fish in the same hole as the seed as a form of fertilizer.

[13:26] herman Bergson: The man behind me survived the woke attack....

[13:26] herman Bergson: He is still on his base....

[13:26] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): and Piet Hein?

[13:26] CB Axel: Corn (maize) was not familiar to the Europeans. :)

[13:27] herman Bergson: But on it is a sign telling that he committed genocide

[13:27] CB Axel: I think we need to know both sides.

[13:27] herman Bergson: Yes CB...

[13:28] herman Bergson: I myself am not yet clear about this issue...how to deal with it intellectually

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i have no knowledge of that man so

[13:28] CB Axel: We need to be woke to the people that were killed without canceling Coen's accomplishments.

[13:29] herman Bergson: He founded Batavia...now Jakarta in Indonesia

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa i thought i had heard THAT name before

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Batavia is familiar

[13:30] herman Bergson: He murdered the population of Banda because they sold their products to the English

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm ok

[13:31] herman Bergson: I need to read more about this woke/cancel culture phenomenon....

[13:31] herman Bergson: But when I read about how Locke was interpreted at least I understood the basics

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): have just heard the term but not much more

[13:32] herman Bergson: Locke defined in fact what had happend in the Bronze Age

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but i guess its like when they tore down statues of Stalin (although that one was just pure evil, nothing good from him)

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but as said hes still part of history although the sad parts

[13:33] herman Bergson: Stalin....probably one of the first victims :-))

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess

[13:33] herman Bergson: We can't deny history....

[13:33] herman Bergson: But it is true....a lot isn't told about some people....

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): naaa just wait till my buddies at CERN have built our time machine

[13:34] CB Axel: We need to learn about the bad so we can avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): THEN

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:34] herman Bergson: This Mr.  Coen for instance is seen as a hero. That is what children learn at school

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok

[13:35] herman Bergson: He was a VOC hero...that is what I have learned.....never heard of the genocide he committed

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i didn't hear different thing either

[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): they were heroes

[13:36] herman Bergson: yes...

[13:37] herman Bergson: well...I only can say......

[13:37] herman Bergson: Stay WOKE and don't get cancelled :-))

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): have no opinion, as said never heard of this man before but also i don't live in US

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and thats a good idea Herman

[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): he was from the Netherlands Bejiita

[13:38] herman Bergson: Who do you mean, Bejiita?

[13:38] herman Bergson: He is a Dutchie indeed :-))

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the statue dude that founded america if i get everything right

[13:39] herman Bergson: No...

[13:39] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Columbus was from Portugal

[13:39] CB Axel: The person in the picture behind Herman is Dutch.

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or i mix all of them up

[13:39] herman Bergson: This man founded Batavia in Indonesia

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all those are new to me

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): those names

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Columbus is the one i know of

[13:39] herman Bergson: you were not woke during my lecture Bejiita!

[13:39] CB Axel: The story is the same. They traveled to other countries and killed the natives, so confusion is understandable. :)

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well i heard of them first time then

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): in any case

[13:40] herman Bergson: Saved by CB, Bejiita :-))

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): need to look more into this

[13:40] CB Axel: This is the dude in the picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Pieterszoon_Coen

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah more then one guy have done those horrid things indeed

[13:41] herman Bergson: oh yes....

[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lot's !

[13:41] CB Axel: I'm sure there were Swedes who did similar things. :)

[13:41] CB Axel: Vikings?

[13:41] CB Axel: Vikings weren't all sweet and gentle. LOL

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa

[13:41] herman Bergson: A WOKE observation CB :-))

[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i thought Vikings were from Norwey and Iceland

[13:42] CB Axel: I don' t know.

[13:42] herman Bergson: don't underestimate the Swedes :-))

[13:42] CB Axel: We just tend to lump them all in together in Scandinavia.  :(

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i think vikings were a bit of a mix but indeed thats what Sweden is known for

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the vikings

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): lol CB

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but we did not wore helmets with horns apparently

[13:43] CB Axel: I know they're all very different countries with different histories and cultures.

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa indeed

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): need to check

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): long since i read anything of vikings

[13:43] CB Axel: I think some costume designer for operas came up with the horned helmets. LOL

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but they are associated with sweden

[13:44] herman Bergson: That is funny CB :-)

[13:44] CB Axel: Viking culture is very popular in Minnesota just to the north of where I live.

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and we have a dance band named Vikingarna (The Vikings) if u tknow what dance band is

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): basically its swedens version of country music

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but way different

[13:45] herman Bergson: Ok....time to come to end for today ^_^

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i can see if i find an example

[13:46] herman Bergson: Thank you all again..... and stay WOKE ^_^

[13:46] CB Axel: Folk music?

[13:46] herman Bergson: Class dismissed.....

[13:46] CB Axel: I have a SL friend who plays in a Norwegian folk band in Minnesota.

[13:46] herman Bergson: But feel free to continue discussing folk music :-)

[13:46] CB Axel: He builds his own violins.

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWWd96MAS98&list=PLXrjzsvQhqUwX8y2ykHfcxbAElXfqQYsm

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): easier if u hear it

[13:47] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman. This has been very interesting.

[13:47] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Thank you Herman and class!

[13:47] CB Axel: Thank you, class, too.

 

Friday, April 16, 2021

917: Into History....

 From the time homo sapiens became the dominant species, which manifested itself in cave paintings, the history of knowledge began.

  

In the previous lecture we learned how the transition from hunter-gatherer to farmer changed the life of homo sapiens forever.

  

Maybe the greatest impact had the emergence of private property. and thence all its consequences.

  

The transition from what we call Prehistory to the period that we are used to call Antiquity, coincides with the transition from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. 

   

The invention of writing and script is usually taken as a turning point. 

  

However, this invention takes place at different moments in different regions. In Mesopotamia around 3200 BC., 

  

In Egypt around 3000 BC., in China around 1200 BC. and in Central America between 1000 and 600 BC. 

  

We split Antiquity in two periods: early antiquity, from 3000 to 600 BC, in which the search for patterns is central, 

  

and classical antiquity, from 600 BC. up to 500 AD, in which the search for principles is central. 

   

Maybe you remember, who stood around 600 BC on the doorstep to the new era: Thales of Miletus (c. 624  – c. 548 BC),

  

the first known Greek mathematician, astronomer and pre-Socratic philosopher from Miletus in Ionia, Asia Minor.

   

Thales is recognized for breaking from the use of mythology to explain the world and the universe, and instead 

  

explaining natural objects and phenomena by naturalistic theories and hypotheses, in a precursor to modern science. 

   

In early antiquity, Mesopotamia, especially the Kingdom of Babylonia, is the region with the most attention to systematic knowledge. 

   

The first Mesopotamia civilizations already used from 3200 BC.on the cuneiform for administrative purposes. 

   

The script is named for the characteristic wedge-shaped impressions (Latin: cuneus) which form its signs. It developed and distributed quickly and around 2700 BC.

  

 it was used throughout the region for recording agreements, contracts and treaties on clay tablets by specially trained clogs. 

  

If you focus on the emergence and development of cuneiform, you can get an idea of how important private property must have been for early homo sapiens.

    

He even developed an administrative system for the registration of his increasing mountain of property in grain and cattle, which he was probably collecting.


From approximately 2600 BC. laws, dictionaries, sky observations, astrological signs, chronicles,  weather observations, mathematical calculations and medical diagnoses were also recorded on clay tablets. 


Thus emerged, what we can call the first knowledge disciplines. Is it also the period in which greed and social inequality emerged......?

    

Thank you for your attention again....


  

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995
 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm
Rens Bod: "Een Wereld vol Patronen".  2019


The Discussion


[13:19] herman Bergson: My idea is that private property, the need for security and greed are a nice combination psychologically

[13:19] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman

[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well thats for sure

[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice i don't know though

[13:20] CB Axel: I think hunter-gatherers could be greedy, too.

[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well sure i have my own things

[13:20] CB Axel: They could block others from the best plants.

[13:21] CB Axel: They could collect food and hide it from others.

[13:21] herman Bergson: Sharing their game seems to me more common for them CB

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): I guess

[13:21] CB Axel: Private property is just an extension of that.

[13:21] CB Axel: I'm sure there were as many greedy people then as there are now.

[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sharing only with the group they belong to

[13:21] CB Axel: We just reward them now.

[13:22] herman Bergson: true

[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:23] herman Bergson: I wonder where this greed comes from psychologically....the unwillingness to share

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): fear

[13:24] herman Bergson: fear...yes...an important human drive

[13:24] CB Axel: Hunger and the desire to prevent hunger?

[13:24] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): the fear of starvation

[13:24] herman Bergson: snd thence the fear of starvation...yes

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and nowadays the fear of being out of toilet paper

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol

[13:25] oola Neruda: the young students in a rough neighborhood in Chicago as the teacher one question over and over...every year.....

[13:25] herman Bergson: ^_^

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at leat THAT hoarding have stopped!

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for now

[13:25] oola Neruda: is it ok to steal food if you are hungry?

[13:25] herman Bergson: a real question, oola

[13:26] oola Neruda: to them it IS

[13:26] herman Bergson: if the hunger is caused by greedy behavior of others.........

[13:26] oola Neruda: but you can see how they feel about it...

[13:27] herman Bergson: if the hunger is caused because they don't get any change to earn a decent wage....

[13:27] oola Neruda: yes

[13:27] oola Neruda: that is the reason

[13:27] herman Bergson: because they are discriminated for instance

[13:27] oola Neruda: or parents cannot get a decent paying job

[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well if it wasn't for money everyone could have a decent meal i guess, like in Africa where many starve

[13:27] oola Neruda: or might be in jail

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): however food production in general might be an issue

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but money cause more harm then good for sure

[13:28] oola Neruda: they end up living in what is called a food desert

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and we all need food to live

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all life needs nutrition

[13:29] oola Neruda: grocery stores do not open near them... rough neighborhoods

[13:29] herman Bergson: What fascinates me is that you can see that all issues we are facing today started already so early in our history

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and water

[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:29] herman Bergson: As Beertje remarked last Tuesday...man  has never changed

[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): circumstances have changed, not human kind

[13:30] herman Bergson: Maybe that is true in a psychological sense.....

[13:30] herman Bergson: yes...and man is more willing to control his primary instincts in a well organized society

[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): controlling an primary instinct is veryhard to do

[13:32] oola Neruda: it might be the basis for what we call religion... to make life more equal...

[13:32] herman Bergson: it is what we call civilization today

[13:32] herman Bergson: I'd say that we made some progress there

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and civilized people versus savages

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): those those terms

[13:33] herman Bergson: We accept Human Rights, well....not everyone but a lot do

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:33] CB Axel: I don't see religion as making people more equal.

[13:33] oola Neruda: read the Iliad... by homer...

[13:33] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): the opposite

[13:33] oola Neruda: see what man can really do and be

[13:33] theo Velde is online.

[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): woman have not many rights in religion

[13:34] oola Neruda: only human.... sigh

[13:34] herman Bergson: it is not just religion.....

[13:35] oola Neruda: right

[13:35] herman Bergson: it is the inclination of homo sapiens to cling to ideologies, which he seess as the solution and answer to his problems and existential questions

[13:36] oola Neruda: or how to control others so they can get what they want

[13:36] herman Bergson: homo sapiens wants ANSWERS......which brings us back to existential fear

[13:37] oola Neruda: and security

[13:37] herman Bergson: Betrand Russell saw as the task of philosophy to learn people to live with the certainty of uncertainty

[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:38] oola Neruda: fight makes might

[13:38] herman Bergson: ideologies offer a pseudo certainty and homo sapiens loves it

[[13:39] herman Bergson: Like Marx said....opium for the people is it

[13:39] oola Neruda: nods

[13:40] herman Bergson: Well....we have a weekend ahead...so I suggest we all get a big joint and have a smoke :-)

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ehhe

[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yay

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): PUFF PUFF

[13:41] herman Bergson: And we can dream of all the answers we then see....

[13:41] CB Axel: I wish.

[13:41] bergfrau Apfelbaum: cheers with red wine:-)

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): I guess

[13:41] CB Axel: I live in a very Republican state. Nothing is legal here.

[13:41] herman Bergson: A good alternative Bergie ^_^

[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): coffeeshops are closed....

[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): mmm yum

[13:42] Lente (lentelies.anatine) is offline.

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we can't buy weet:(

[13:42] herman Bergson: It is sold in other places Beertje...believe me :-)

[13:42] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes I know:)))

[13:43] herman Bergson: ok...

[13:43] herman Bergson: Thank you all again today.....for your participation

[13:43] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako):

[13:43] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman

[13:43] oola Neruda: thank you, Herman

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): looks for my black plupp)

[13:44] bergfrau Apfelbaum: thank you Herman and class!

[13:44] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman and class.