959: An inspiring observation....

 When you in passing by happen to overhear  a conversation between two elderly people, nine out of ten the subject of their conversation will be

   

that they have been to the doctor, that some relative is in the hospital, that someone had to have an operation, that there are problems with.....

  

When you open the newspaper, what first strikes your eye is the plethora of problems and disasters, that are occurrinng in our world with climate change winning the prize today.

   

what I have become aware of for long now, is that Homo sapiens has an probably inborn inclination to focus on the negative side of his existence here on this planet.

   

On the other hand we also have a probably inborn nature to strive for the good, to improve our lives and that of others, even when it isn't family.

   

Our current project is about the phenomenon that our mind was able to discover patterns in our environment and that we were able to discover principles on which these patterns were based.

   

And due to this ability we were able to improve our knowledge of our reality, even so much that were were able to develop a vaccin against a totally invisible covid enemy in no time today.

  

However,, in our class a number of times we discussed the questionable situation in the United States, the horrible right wing movement, the questionable behavior of a Mr. Trump and  so on.

   

In other words..... our world is going down the drain, isn't it? We need a lantern to find the little moments of the good, it seems.

    

But is that really our reality? True, when you follow the media, the news programs and the newspapers, apparently we live in a world of natural disaster, crime, economic and political disasters.

  

Then. let me show you proof, that it is in fact a kind of misconception. 

   

Our culture is based on the concept of individualism, on the belief that every individual person has rights, 

   

the right to live, the right of security, the right of having sufficient food, a roof over our head and healthcare and so on.

   

In every society where a small group has seized all wealth and power and claims these rights only for themselves 

  

and leave the rest of society for what it is or even oppress any protest, we see a corrupt elite and an autocrat at the helm.

   

But how is the world, that is, mankind really doing?

In Stockholm, Sweden, there is the IDEA. the International Institute for Democracy and electoral assistance.

  

QUOTE - We develop comparative knowledge, assist in democratic reform, and influence policies and politics, 

   

focusing in our main impact areas: electoral processes, constitution-building, democracy assessments, 

   

and political participation and representation. We also address issues of gender equality and inclusion, and conflict and security. - END QUOTE

  

That is what the institute does and here comes the catch. Each year the institute publishes a report on the status of democracy in the world 

   

and on its website I found a map, which inspired me to this lecture and to tell you about it. Just look at the map behind me......

  

I only can come to one conclusion, from a social and political point of view the world has become a better place for a lot more people in the past 50 years.

   

But let me warn you. When you read the report, you'll read this:

   

QUOTE - The number of countries undergoing ‘democratic backsliding’ (a more severe and deliberate kind of democratic erosion) has never been 

  

as high as in the last decade, and includes regional geopolitical and economic powers such as Brazil, India and the United States. - END QUOTE

  

So, there is still enough to worry about..... 

   

Thank you for your attention...

    

IDEA

https://www.idea.int/about-us/annual-reports 

IDEA Map

https://www.idea.int/gsod-indices/democracy-indices 

IDEA download report

https://www.idea.int/gsod/

[13:14] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i didn't know that about Germany

[13:15] Ian Newt: Very interesting herman... I have a question about the 'Freedom of Thought' map.  What is meant by 'Freedom of Thought'... how can anyone control anyone else's thoughts? Doesn't every human have freedom of thought?

[13:15] herman Bergson: I just saw the map myself

[13:16] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nothing green on the map in 2014 and sweden ranked then with Systematic discrimination

[13:16] herman Bergson: Of course it means the freedom of expressing your thoughts

[13:16] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the map below looks better, still way to many dark areas

[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but yes stuff goes the wrong direction in some places, Hungary  and Poland are 2 scary examples

[13:17] herman Bergson: Yet the democracy map looks better for 2020

[13:17] Medussa Reddevil: I am surprise that these maps show Spain as a little orange respect the violations of freedom of expression, and I say this because in 2017 we got to get out on the streets to defend with our bodies our right to vote, Can you imagine that in 2017 in Europe?

[13:18] Medussa Reddevil: In needs to be dark red.

[13:19] herman Bergson: Today you mean Medussa?

[13:19] Ian Newt: Probably on both maps.

[13:19] Medussa Reddevil: Yes, today Spain should be a darker red

[13:20] herman Bergson: Isn't is a democracy anymore and discriminating people?

[13:20] Medussa Reddevil: ufff... I would not call this democracy

[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok

[13:20] Medussa Reddevil: When you go to prison for writing a song about the King

[13:21] Ian Newt: Democracy in name only. Sort of a facade.

[13:21] herman Bergson: Ohh....

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): have no check on whats happening in spain at moment but that sounds indeed not good

[13:21] Medussa Reddevil: Not good at all

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and very un-european

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as said, things go in wring direction at some places

[13:21] herman Bergson: yes, neither have I detailed knowledge of the situation in Spain

[13:21] Medussa Reddevil: Our rightful president of Catalonia is in exile since 2017 for allowing people to vote

[13:22] herman Bergson: Oh dear...Catalonia

[13:22] Medussa Reddevil: He is in the Eurochamber fighting for rights

[13:22] herman Bergson: But the voting in Catalonia was unconstitutional, wasn't it?

[13:23] Medussa Reddevil: anyway, I don´t want to focus this discussion in our case but yes, many countries as getting back to old costumes

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

[13:23] oola Neruda: I'm glad you are speaking of these things, Medussa

[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): worrying development in many places

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

[13:23] oola Neruda: Some things do not get covered...in the news...

[13:24] Medussa Reddevil: Is incostitucional to ask the people what is their opinion?

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the Catalonia thing i heard about before

[13:24] Ian Newt: The supreme court of Spain declared it unconstitutional, but that court is political

[13:24] Medussa Reddevil: Is not specified in Human Rights List the right to vote?

[13:24] herman Bergson: I thought the maps showed at least some improvements....?

[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): some laces have became better but others sadly worse

[13:25] herman Bergson: An increase in the number of (almost) democratic countries

[13:25] Ian Newt: They appear, overall, to indicate improvements, yes.

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

[13:26] herman Bergson: Which may be regarded as a positive achievement of mankind....

[13:26] theo Velde is online.

[13:26] herman Bergson: but keep in mind....these maps show an overall score...

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats true

[13:27] herman Bergson: so a matter like Catalonia weighs less in the total score of Spain

[13:27] Ian Newt: I don't believe that humankind is much different today that it was thousands of years ago. Superficially we're different due to technology and its affect upon daily life, but we're not fundamentally different.

[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i agree Ian

[13:28] herman Bergson: You could question the fact that the US with its voter restriction laws, gerrymandering and discrimination is dark green....

[13:28] oola Neruda: Unfortunately, I have to agree

[13:29] herman Bergson: I would like to add a nuance to Ian's remark.....

[13:29] FrannyDJ Dean is offline.

[13:29] herman Bergson: In what sense are we the same....?

[13:29] oola Neruda: and the US is becoming something unrecognizable.. or... unfortunately, much to recognizable

[13:29] herman Bergson: I think that in our irrationality and emotion driven behaviors we are the same as a thousand years ago

[13:30] herman Bergson: There I agree with Ian

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and greed and power hungryness. (Erdogan Kim jong Putin)

[13:30] oola Neruda: technology makes the spread of ... "thoughts" much easier

[13:30] herman Bergson: but we are not the same in our social organization whithin which this irrational creature homo sapiens lives

[13:31] herman Bergson: bad thoughts and good thoughts indeed oola

[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): only a few are like that but when those few can hold an entire countries population hostage

[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): we can say and write what we want, but do we need to say everything what we want?

[13:31] herman Bergson: That makes me wonder too all the time Bejiita

[13:31] oola Neruda: i have a journalism background... and have been watching proplganda taking over... slowly and more subtle at first...but now it is blaring

[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): why no-one shoot the bastards. its millions against a few, well but those few have equally corrupted evil armies in their side that will do short work of the opposers, thats why nothing happens

[13:33] herman Bergson: violence isn't the solution Bejiita

[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): look at the islamic spring, it ended with disaster and the Syrian war

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

[13:33] Ian Newt: How is our social organization different today, herman?

[13:33] oola Neruda: even the laws that should contain propaganda... are being ignored.... one should be able to sue the reporters who lie... but I do not see that happening... on way FoX gets around it is by having a license that calls it entertainment... rather than news

[13:33] herman Bergson: To answer Ian, ....

[13:33] herman Bergson: look at the democracy map

[13:34] herman Bergson: the difference is that the individual citizen is protected in his rights

[13:34] herman Bergson: in a democracy

[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats how it should work indeed

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): when I watch FOX it surprises me everytime

[13:35] oola Neruda: they are lies... propaganda

[13:35] herman Bergson: yes...and especially Tucker Carlson

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ye

[13:35] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): terrible

[13:36] herman Bergson: BUT...that is one of the values of democracy...free speech...

[13:36] herman Bergson: even terrible speech within the restrictions of the law

[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): but many people believe what he says

[13:36] oola Neruda: news orgainizations have to follow laws... to be honest

[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): here in Sweden we have a say "using the democrazy to get rid of it"

[13:36] oola Neruda: Fox does not

[13:36] Ian Newt: What's interesting to me is that the stuff that comes out of Fox News, and the people who believe it... that's been going on for a long time, but during the 4 years of Trump it's like Pandora's box was opened.

[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes Ian

[13:37] Medussa Reddevil: I think we did not advance too much since old times, the known panem et circenses applies still now. If there is a big problem put some juicy news about famous or knows people and creates a distraction. The news are helping a lot to it.

[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i thought it was Trumps news sender

[13:37] herman Bergson: Yes.... and WHY do people WEANT to believe it?

[13:37] Ian Newt: I read somewhere that Trump is documented to have told more than 27,000 lies while in office. How can someone get away with that? How can the people who voted for him tolerate that?

[13:38] herman Bergson: no...Rupert Murdoch is the owner Beertje

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmmm indeed, and now he is on blabbering again how he lost and blah blah WAAAAH WAAAH

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sigh

[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): at least now i dont hear about it all the time

[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i know Herman, but it felt that Trump was the owner

[13:39] herman Bergson: I am quite puzzled about that behavior Ian

[13:39] oola Neruda whispers: at first they embraced trump as he ran for office because people tuned in to hear what he had to say... as a candidate... that affected ratings... which brought in more money through advertising... in the end, it was about MONEY

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): in any case what is going on now in US is threatening the democrazy for sure

[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its not how it should work

[13:39] herman Bergson: or take chosen representatives in Congress who still refuse to acknowledge that Trump lost the elections

[13:39] Medussa Reddevil: Did anybody seen the movie "  The Comey Rule  "  Trump seemed to "own" everything.

[13:40] Ian Newt: it's always about MONEY

[13:40] Ian Newt: everything is about MONEY

[13:40] herman Bergson: Most of the time indeed

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sadly yes

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sigh

[13:40] oola Neruda: money...is at the bottom of a lot of it

[13:40] herman Bergson: The magic mantra is: if the economy is growing everything is well

[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Trump have definitely bribed his way through, if i did like him i would be in jail on lifetime sentence by now

[13:41] oola Neruda: lobbyists... and other "interests"

[13:41] Medussa Reddevil: So probably if Fox had somebody with some principles... poofed

[13:41] Medussa Reddevil: I agree Herman.

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or no i would probably be in a mattress cell for life

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its amazing he have gotten away with everything

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but indeed money is everything

[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it seems

[13:42] herman Bergson: If the USA stays a democracy will be shown in the 2022 elections

[13:42] oola Neruda: nods... scary

[13:42] Medussa Reddevil: Indeed

[13:42] Ciska Riverstone is offline.

[13:42] theo Velde is offline.

[13:43] Ian Newt: There's a fundamental flaw in human society that will eventually overshadow everything else... too much depends on continual and never-ending 'growth'. I read the other day that a decrease in the birth rate means that there won't be enough people for economies to continue to grow at high enough rates to sustain standards of living.

[13:43] herman Bergson: with all voter suppression laws in place , totally jerrymandered districts....

[13:43] Ian Newt: But there are already TOO MANY humans on the planet.

[13:43] oola Neruda: that is terrifying

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm i really hope for the best, but thuse Mr T supporters hmmm. at least that Shanon cult leader or what it was called is in jail now

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): for storming the congress

[13:44] Medussa Reddevil: I agree Ian, the eternal growth

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

[13:44] herman Bergson: I don't think there are too many people on this planet....but the problem is a fair distribution of resources...

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

[13:44] oola Neruda: on the other hand, an increase in population means just that many more people either contributing to climate change.... or suffering under it.... and food will be a major problem

[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): to few have too much

[13:45] Ian Newt: In the 2022 elections it's likely that congress will swing away from the Democratic party and toward the Republican party. That's normal in the U.S. -- congress typically swings away from the party of the current president.

[13:45] herman Bergson: and it is already a proven fact that growth is not a conditio sine  qua non for survival...

[13:45] oola Neruda: there will be food shortages

[13:45] Ian Newt: It's part of the balances built into the American system.

[13:45] herman Bergson: self sustaining economic systems without growth are  also doable

[13:46] oola Neruda: water is becoming more scarce... the aquafirs are nearly drained.. partially because of irrigation methods currently using them up

[13:46] herman Bergson: indeed oola....a good example....

[13:47] herman Bergson: the water shortage in California is caused by those platages, what are they.....for peanuts....I forgot

[13:47] Medussa Reddevil: I think we have passed the point where we could have done things correctly.

[13:47] oola Neruda: California asked Chicago to send Lake Michigan water to California... I'm not sure how they planned to make that happen...

[13:47] oola Neruda: Chicago said no

[13:48] Ian Newt: I agree Medussa.

[13:48] herman Bergson: all water is spend on agricultural irrigation in Calefornia

[13:48] herman Bergson: I am not that pessimistic Medussa :-)

[13:48] Medussa Reddevil: I am not pessimistic, I am realistic :D

[13:49] herman Bergson smiles

[13:49] oola Neruda: they are getting desperate...the water table has gone down so far... and poor people who have normal wells have very little access to water... the wells are going dry

[13:49] Ian Newt: I don't think it's pessimism. More like being realistic.

[13:49] herman Bergson: Ah yes..that is what it is called , realistic :-)

[13:49] Medussa Reddevil: hehehe

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

[13:49] oola Neruda: the big farmers dig their wells deeper than the rest of the people

[13:49] herman Bergson: indeed oola

[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that creates big problems indeed

[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not good

[13:50] Ian Newt: People have a tendency not to act unless it's really really urgent. Unless they are pursuing pleasure, and then they act earlier.

[13:50] herman Bergson: because that is good for the economy.......:-(

[13:50] oola Neruda: they can afford to...

[13:51] Ian Newt: There are so many examples of this. The dangerous intersection that everyone recognizes as dangerous doesn't get a traffic light until someone is killed in an accident there.

[13:51] oola Neruda: they can afford to dig a deeper well

[13:51] oola Neruda: and not even then

[13:51] herman Bergson: It all  begins to sound a little realistic here.....I thought I'd better bring some positive, somewhat optimistic view :-)

[13:51] Ian Newt: People live on flood plains.. until there is a big flood.

[13:51] Medussa Reddevil: People will have to migrate. Wait when the water rises... this last week rained scorpions in Egypt!

[13:52] oola Neruda: and people die as they try to migrate...

[13:52] herman Bergson: It also has rained frogs there, if I am not mistaken

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ITS THE END OF THE WOOORLD

[13:52] Medussa Reddevil: lol

[13:52] herman Bergson: Bejiita ! :-)

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

[13:52] Medussa Reddevil: lol

[13:52] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well hopefully not

[13:52] Medussa Reddevil: it´s life :)

[13:53] herman Bergson: Isay....how limited we may be in our capabilities, we do a good job

[13:53] Ian Newt: The end of the world "as we know it". Earth will survive, despite humanity.

[13:53] herman Bergson: we are just a passing plague for nature Ian ^_^

[13:53] Medussa Reddevil: I think so ian

[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): not if we nuke it and all life, plants ect on it

[13:54] Ian Newt: Plague is a good word for us. :-)

[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but that i hope not will come to reality

[13:54] Medussa Reddevil: Yes

[13:54] herman Bergson: I still believe that we'll manage as mankind

[13:55] Medussa Reddevil: The yes was for Ian´s comment lol

[13:55] herman Bergson: Yes ^_^

[13:55] oola Neruda: I sigh to realize that people who believe the things Q Anon says.... are out there...

[13:55] oola Neruda: and that there are so many of them

[13:55] herman Bergson: It is a minority oola

[13:56] oola Neruda: enough to tip a scale

[13:56] oola Neruda: combined with certain other .... groups

[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa Q Anon was the name i tried to remember

[13:56] Ian Newt: I'm not sure how 'minor' that minority is, herman

[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed

[13:56] herman Bergson: the more people say that the more this minority is strengthened in its convictions...

[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and they are all on mr Ts side

[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): sigh

[13:57] herman Bergson: Stop being a megaphone for crackpots :-)

[13:57] Medussa Reddevil: ahhHHAHA

[13:57] herman Bergson: It is a structural flaw in the news media

[13:57] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol but aren't they

[13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): most of the time minorities yell very loud

[13:58] Ian Newt: Here's a news media outlet with a different perspective: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but well i have seen the congress being stormed by some insane mob and it looks like well

[13:58] herman Bergson: We have a crackpot in parlement....representing a small party

[13:58] oola Neruda: combine them with the people who are anti-this... anti-that or pro-whatever

[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that its everything

[13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): ohyes

[13:58] herman Bergson: His main goal is to create upheaval

[13:58] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that annoying little man

[13:58] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but indeed that thing was insane, but hopefully its MUCH calmer now over there

[13:58] Medussa Reddevil: They said that the far right was just a small group... Europe is starting to have more and more representatives. That´s scary.

[13:59] Ian Newt: The thing that makes me nervous about 'crackpots' who get elected is that often they are perfectly sane and quite intelligent... it's the people who vote for them who are the crackpots.

[13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:59] herman Bergson: so  he loves to compare for instance vaccination with the Jewish yellow star ofr the holocaust

[13:59] Medussa Reddevil: ufff

[13:59] herman Bergson: the media here most of the time ignore him now

[13:59] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oooof

[13:59] Ian Newt: That's what happened with Trump. He's much smarter than he seems.

[14:00] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): he might be but in the wrong things

[14:00] herman Bergson: Take Lauren Boebard or Taylor Green.....complete incompetent idiots but chosen

[14:01] Medussa Reddevil: Who is the small man you guys talking about? I am lost

[14:01] herman Bergson: But at the moment the US is really a special case in the hstory of democracy

[14:01] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): his name not to be mentioned

[14:01] herman Bergson: Voldemort.....:-)

[14:01] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes:)

[14:01] Medussa Reddevil: lol

[14:01] Medussa Reddevil: ok

[14:02] herman Bergson: I am not afraid ^_^

[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hahaha yes THAT is the closest comparison u can get to him

[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[14:02] Marja Haven-Zeimer (ladyy.haven) is offline.

[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Mr V

[14:02] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe

[14:03] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): welll i hope things turn out good in  the end in some way

[14:03] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all u can do

[14:03] Medussa Reddevil: we all hope :D

[14:03] herman Bergson: I agree with you Bejiita...and I still have faith

[14:03] bergfrau Apfelbaum: think now we can all use this dancer :-) i send you

[14:03] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): me too, and soon its all christmas parties!

[14:04] bergfrau Apfelbaum: add it

[14:04] herman Bergson: Good idea, Bergie

[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): what was the name of it

[14:04] herman Bergson: Class dismissed......

[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i think i should have it on me

[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): used it yesterday

[14:04] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)

[14:04] bergfrau Apfelbaum: happy on

[14:05] Medussa Reddevil: woohoo

[14:05] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay

[14:05] Medussa Reddevil: YAY! (yay!)

[14:05] herman Bergson: yay

[14:05] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): in the end all is good after all

[14:05] Ian Newt: We hope that the asteroid that is currently not a danger to hit the earth, that is the target of the NASA mission to test its 'asteroid deflection' system, doesn't become a threat by accident.

[14:05] Medussa Reddevil: omalord

958: The Big Change...

 Galilei was convicted of possible heresy in 1632 and  turned pope Urbanus VIII and the Jesuits from allies into opponents. No more publications about astronomy.

  

Ok, no more astronomy, then move on to the study of moving bodies in general. Thence he began to experiment with rolling metal balls from an inclined plane.

   

He began by telling that Aristotle claimed that object fall with a speed proportional to their weight. Big stones fall faster that small stones.

  

Galilei assumed that Aristotle never had come to this conclusion by doing experiments, so that he could have seen that he was wrong.. 

  

I'll safe you the mathematics, but the final result of Galilei using the empirical cycle, was the historical publication of a book on mechanics in 1637, groundbreaking math.

  

This was the result of his specific mindset, which you already could have learned from is publication in 1623 of "Il Saggiatore"

   

"The Assayer" (il Saggiatore) was a book published in Rome and is generally considered to be one of the pioneering works of the scientific method, 

  

first discussing the idea that the book of nature is to be read with mathematical tools rather than those of scholastic philosophy, as generally held at the time.

   

QUOTE - Philosophy [i.e. natural philosophy] is written in this grand book — I mean the Universe — which stands continually open to our gaze, 

  

but it cannot be understood unless one first learns to comprehend the language and interpret the characters in which it is written. 

  

It is written in the language of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometrical figures, 

  

without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it; without these, one is wandering around in a dark labyrinth.

  

You could not understand nature by studying the bible, like scholastics did, nor by studying the classics like the humanists did,

  

but you had to focus on experiments and describe these in the language of nature: mathematics.

   

This is the big change of thinking in patterns and principles, that emerged in those days and has become the most natural thing in our life today.

  

According Aristotle all reality was teleological. Every proces in nature strives for a goal. The moving object strives for rest, the seed strives for becoming a tree and so on.

  

René Descartes (1596 - 1650) didn't agree with this idea. In his "Discours de la Méthode" (1637) he focused on the notion of "clear and distinct ideas".

  

And one of the most influential ideas was, that everything in nature was a matter of cause and effect relation, that all could be mathematically described.

    

Descartes' ideas had an enormous impact on early modern science: they led to a research program in which the human body, but not the human soul, 

  

was seen as a machine, just like the earth, the planetary system and the universe as a whole.

   

Everything was subject to causal laws of nature. Non-causal descriptions were rejected. 

  

His philosophical idea, that nature is subject to natural laws that are the same everywhere and always, is still our view. 

  

But this way of thinking provoked fierce reactions. After all, if everything could be explained by natural laws, without intervention from God, was there still room for a supreme being?

  

And so here you witness what is perhaps the most drastic step in thinking in terms of patterns and principles: the mechanization of our world view.

   

Thank you for your attention....

   

http://www.herman-bergson.nl

Main Sources:

MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 1995

http://www.iep.utm.edu/

 http://plato.stanford.edu/contents.htm

Rens Bod: "Een Wereld vol Patronen".  2019

The Discussion

  

[13:13] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and the church screamed in rage NOOO NOOOO NOOOOO!

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

[13:14] herman Bergson: Yes but yet it is a breaking point in human history

[13:14] Medussa Reddevil: Thank you Herman and Hello! everybody I missed.

[13:14] Ian Newt: That way of thinking seems to still evoke fierce reactions to this day

[13:14] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep

[13:14] herman Bergson: Oh yes Ian

[13:14] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true

[13:15] Medussa Reddevil: Maybe not so much in Europe but in the US?

[13:15] herman Bergson: there is even a kind of anti science  sentiments....as if science is just another opinion about reality

[13:15] herman Bergson: I agree Medussa

[13:15] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm

[13:15] herman Bergson: What I here from Americans is often horrible

[13:16] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): IN GOD WE TRUST

[13:16] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): their slogan for everything (almost)

[13:16] Ian Newt: well.... it is sort of an opinion about reality, isn't it? I mean, our understanding of reality keeps changing all the time.

[13:16] herman Bergson: Only to some extend, I'd say Ian....

[13:17] herman Bergson: I see the changes more in a progressing deeper understanding of reality by science

[13:17] Ian Newt: I suppose it depends on our definition of the word 'opinion'.

[13:17] herman Bergson: Well...

[13:17] herman Bergson: we could say that an opinion is a point of view based on testable arguments

[13:18] Medussa Reddevil: What about facts?

[13:18] Medussa Reddevil: because an opinion is a fact?

[13:18] herman Bergson: a fact is an observable item or even in reality, which can be testedon its real existence

[13:19] herman Bergson: event

[13:19] herman Bergson: For instance.....

[13:19] herman Bergson: A human being can not fly by itself....

[13:19] herman Bergson: is that a fact, an opinion?

[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nope, we need a machine

[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): then we can fly

[13:19] herman Bergson: ok...test it

[13:20] Ian Newt: And yet people argue over facts all the time, so there seems to be wide disparity in viewpoints.

[13:20] herman Bergson: stand on a sky scraper and everyone who does not accept this FACT may step over the edge and fly

[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): WEEEEEEEEEEE SPLAT!

[13:21] herman Bergson: ahhh....often an opinion is regarded to be just a relative truth

[13:21] Medussa Reddevil: But those who deny facts is not because they don´t have information, but they want to ignore it. That´s an opinion I guess.

[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like the flat earthers pfff

[13:21] Medussa Reddevil: exactly

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

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

[13:22] herman Bergson: yes....an opinion then is a point of view of which the truthvalue only depends on the person that upholds the opinion

[13:22] Ian Newt: I used to be certain that people landed on the moon in 1969. I watched it on TV, live, and I believed it.

[13:22] Ian Newt: But what proof do I really have?

[13:22] herman Bergson: the proof is simple.....

[13:22] Medussa Reddevil: I don´t think the man landed in the Moon, THAT day

[13:23] herman Bergson: send a probe to the moon and have  it photograph the lander that remained there and the footprints that are still there and the tire tracks

[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): and the flag

[13:24] herman Bergson: ah yes...

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): also u can shoot a laser at the moon and get a reflection back from a mirror like thing placed there

[13:24] Ian Newt: But I would still be in the position of believing the people who would claim to have sent that probe to make those photographs.

[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): Mythbusters did that

[13:24] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): moonbouncing:)

[13:24] herman Bergson: sure you can claim that....but then you also must have irrefutable proof of the truth of your clainm, Ian

[13:25] herman Bergson: The funny thing is....

[13:25] Ian Newt: But I'm not claiming that it didn't happen... only that my only 'proof' that it did happen is what others have told me, and some images I saw on the TV.

[13:25] herman Bergson: People say....They didnt land on the moon.....was all fake....

[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): pffffs1

[13:26] herman Bergson: That doesn't disprove anything

[13:27] herman Bergson: and if that is your only proof than you have informed yourself very poorly about the subject

[13:27] Ian Newt: If it was faked, it certainly would have been an incredibly complex undertaking. The scale of such an operation makes it less likely to be possible, in my opinion.

[13:28] Ian Newt: If I apply Occam's Razor to this thought, I can only deduce that it's more likely that it happened than that it was faked.

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, i mean computer graphics did not even exist back then, the very first IC powered computer was in the moon-lander

[13:28] herman Bergson: There is that movie....I think it is  about a faked trip to Mars....forgot the title

[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): otherwise computers were big as rooms and strictly for buisness use

[13:28] Medussa Reddevil: I think I have seen that movie :)

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

[13:29] Ian Newt: Computer graphics didn't exist when 2001 A Space Odyssey was filmed, and yet... look at it.

[13:30] herman Bergson: Yes...

[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its an amazing task they pulled off

[13:30] herman Bergson: But back to fact and opinion.....

[13:31] herman Bergson: Around 1650 science became an empirical science based on mathematics

[13:31] herman Bergson: It shaped our lives of today

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

[13:32] herman Bergson: and now we live in a world where that science is even questioned and facts can be replaced by alternative facts

[13:32] herman Bergson: it is amazing

[13:32] Medussa Reddevil: I get very frustrated by that

[13:32] Ian Newt: If I can't experience something directly, with my 5 senses, then I have to believe what someone else tells me.

[13:32] herman Bergson: Yes it is also an emotional issue...

[13:33] Ian Newt: I can take someone's scientific experiment and repeat it myself, and see for myself that it's true. Then I have proved it for myself.

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

[13:33] Ian Newt: but if I can't conduct the experiment then I have to take it on faith, so to speak.

[13:33] herman Bergson: Just think for only one minute about what you really KNOW by personal experience and what you KNOW because someone taught you something

[13:34] Ian Newt: Aren't those two different types of knowledge?

[13:34] herman Bergson: I think 90% of our individual personal knowledge (about reality) is knowledge based on authority

[13:34] Medussa Reddevil: But maybe, the fast advance of science make some theories that we are still using now, as obsoletes?

[13:35] Ian Newt: I agree with you in principle, not sure about the percentage.

[13:35] herman Bergson: That happens all the time Medussa

[13:35] Ian Newt: Yes Medussa, good point.

[13:35] herman Bergson: Is just a guess, Ian ^_^

[13:36] herman Bergson: Just look at the empirical cycle...

[13:37] herman Bergson: You have a theory...so far it is what we know about something....then you try a new hypothesis and test it

[13:37] herman Bergson: It can show that your theory was wrong and that you have to adjust it, or develop e new theory

[13:38] herman Bergson: That is the process in human thinking that started around 1650

[13:38] Medussa Reddevil: I think is a great process

[13:39] Ian Newt: Sure, once we learn it we use it all the time in one way or another.

[13:39] herman Bergson: The process is well documented by Thomas Kun in his book "The structure of scientific revolution (1962)"

[13:41] herman Bergson: It began with Karl Popper's "The Logic of scientific Discovery" (1934)

[13:41] herman Bergson: Simply said  his thesis was....

[13:41] herman Bergson: Don't try to confirm an observation....try to falsify it

[13:42] Medussa Reddevil: interesting

[13:42] herman Bergson: For instance...the thesis All swans are white....

[13:42] Ian Newt: If you can't falsify it, that doesn't mean it's true. But if you can prove it, then it's true.

[13:42] herman Bergson: what do you do to establish the truth of this statement....loooking for more white swans?

[13:43] Ian Newt: ?

[13:43] herman Bergson: That increases only its probability of being true...

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

[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): u need to look for the black ones

[13:43] Medussa Reddevil: or brown

[13:43] herman Bergson: So....find simply one swan that sin't white and you know that "all swans are white" is a false statement

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

[13:44] Ian Newt: I agree.

[13:44] Medussa Reddevil: I see.

[13:44] herman Bergson: If you can't falsify it, that doesn't mean it's true......interesting remark.....

[13:44] Ian Newt: But what about the statement: People landed on the moon in 1969?

[13:44] herman Bergson: what does it say....

[13:45] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that we landed on the moon

[13:46] herman Bergson: hmmm...if you can't falsify a statement of fact, then such a statement cant have a truth value, I'd say

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but only way to proove it is to look for objects actually on the moon

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that we left there

[13:46] Medussa Reddevil: It´s like after death, you can´t say what´s going on in there, in my opinion

[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but there is, the flag, that mirror ect

[13:46] Ian Newt: Good example, Medussa.

[13:46] herman Bergson: oops Medussa...that is a big statement with otns of implications

[13:47] herman Bergson: tons

[13:47] Ian Newt: Yes, if a statement cannot be proven false, then it might be true.

[13:47] herman Bergson: is presuposes a lot before you can talk about "something after death"

[13:47] Medussa Reddevil: Is not like the not white swan?

[13:47] herman Bergson: or might be false

[13:48] herman Bergson: one black swan tells you that the statement that all swans are white is 100% false

[13:48] Medussa Reddevil: but you had to find the black swan first

[13:48] herman Bergson: like 1 + 1  is always and everywhere 2

[13:48] Medussa Reddevil: lol I think so... maybe I am too tired lol

[13:48] herman Bergson: yes...that is the job of science

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

[13:49] herman Bergson: but for the after death issue we need a lot of ingredients :-)

[13:49] herman Bergson: a definition of life

[13:49] herman Bergson: of something that "survives" death

[13:50] herman Bergson: a place or state that is this "happening something"

[13:51] herman Bergson: I guess we run out of time for  working that all out

[13:51] Medussa Reddevil: lol I guess

[13:51] Medussa Reddevil: :)

[13:51] Medussa Reddevil: Too complex

[13:51] Ian Newt: That's a topic worthy of discussion though.

[13:51] herman Bergson: But it is a legitimate matter of debate

[13:51] Medussa Reddevil: :D

[13:51] herman Bergson: I agree, Ian

[13:52] Medussa Reddevil: Is an opnion, waiting to become a fact

[13:52] herman Bergson: We even are not sure when we may call a human being

[13:52] herman Bergson: lol

[13:52] bergfrau Apfelbaum: lol+

[13:52] herman Bergson: sorry

[13:52] Medussa Reddevil: heheh

[13:52] herman Bergson: lolol

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

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

[13:53] bergfrau Apfelbaum: *** haa hahaha ha ***

[13:53] herman Bergson: guess I have a gesture active that responds to the word DXXD

[13:53] Medussa Reddevil: LOL

[13:53] bergfrau Apfelbaum: lol

[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): looks like one of my breakdance poses

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

[13:53] Medussa Reddevil: haha

[13:53] herman Bergson: This ends our converstation.....

[13:53] herman Bergson: lol

[13:54] herman Bergson: Thank you all again...^_^

[13:54] Medussa Reddevil: you going to wrinkle the suit lol

[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ok u can stop hiding behind the desk 

[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe

[13:54] herman Bergson: Class dismissed ...

[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): great again

[13:54] bergfrau Apfelbaum: was very interesting again! thank you Herman and class:-)

[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): some new stuff to think about

[13:54] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): don't touch me i will be death

[13:54] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡

[13:54] Medussa Reddevil: Thank you Professor :D fantastic time :) Nice to meet you all again

[13:54] Ian Newt: Interesting lecture and discussion herman.

[13:55] herman Bergson: you're always welcome Medussa

[13:55] herman Bergson: thank you Ian

[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): it was a fantastic lecture Herman

[13:55] herman Bergson: I spend 30 years of my life in education :-))

[13:55] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you

[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)

[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki where to?

[13:56] herman Bergson: I just still love it ^_^

[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa great