I have borrowed two graphics from the TEDtalk "Why there is no way back for religion in the West | David Voas | TEDxUniversityofEssex" which I brought to your attention in the discussion after the previous lecture.
If you would see a graphic of the growth of scientific knowledge since 1900 and maybe also a graphic of the growth of material wealth and prosperity in the Western World, it may perhaps be related to the growing interest in materialism.
But even if you leave materialism outside the considerations, you could conclude, to put it in a simple way,
that a constantly growing number of people realize, that when you are seriously ill, you'd better go to the doctor than pray to some god for healing.
And if people come to such conclusions, they still might deal with the ontological question: In what world am I living, what does really exist and how does this all work? Here materialism tries to give an answer.
But now that we are past Newton and Darwin we have arrived at a significant moment in the historical development of materialism.
Materialism began as an imaginative vision about the nature of reality and the true natures and properties of things.
While others speculated about the existence of gods, souls, and spirits, and imagined the material world was ultimately composed of water, or fire or some combination of elements,
the ancient and early modern materialist thinkers envisaged a world in which the phenomena we observe, and life itself, are produced by matter in motion in three-dimensional space, and nothing
This vision, in the form of the mechanical philosophy, formed the intellectual foundation for the transformation of natural philosophy into natural science. The matter in question was thought of as tiny particles, like dust particles that are too small to see.
However, the idea that the motions of matter could be explained in terms of action by contact, that is, one piece of matter moving another by directly pushing it, did not suffice.
Newton’s Principia of 1687, the founding theory of modern mathematical physics, posited a universal gravitational force acting between all bodies instantaneously at a distance.
This meant that matter was not simply a process of particles, atoms colliding with each other that gave rise to action,
but that there was a force that was not inherent to the atoms, that enabled objects to influence other objects over large distances: gravitation.
This seemed to many of Newton's critics as mysterious as witchcraft, but, as Newton said in reply, that is not so because it has a precise mathematical form from which can be derived exact predictions.
In due course, his most diehard mechanist opponents, those who postulated colliding particles for creating action, succumbed to the empirical success of the laws of classical mechanics he formulated, but what gravitation really was, was still not really clear.
The other big issue is, that materialism has always faced the challenge of explaining how matter in motion could give rise to ideas and sensations.
However, it was not materialism’s failure to account for life or mind that caused its radical revision.
Materialism was made obsolete by developments in the area that materialists most admire, and for which they believed they were providing philosophical foundations, namely physics.
In the centuries following Newton, the study of matter in physics transformed our concept of matter. Our best current accounts are incomplete but are far removed from our concept of everyday material objects.
Here we enter Bejiita's playground: CERN. We now enter the stage of a new view of what materialism is and believe me, it's not going to be easy.
Thank you for your attention again.....
Main Sources:
MacMillan The Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2nd edition
TABLE OF CONTENT -----------------------------------------------------------------
1 - 100 Philosophers 9 May 2009 Start of
2 - 25+ Women Philosophers 10 May 2009 this blog
3 - 25 Adventures in Thinking 10 May 2009
4 - Modern Theories of Ethics 29 Oct 2009
5 - The Ideal State 24 Febr 2010 / 234
6 - The Mystery of the Brain 3 Sept 2010 / 266
7 - The Utopia of the Free Market 16 Febr 2012 / 383
8. - The Aftermath of Neo-liberalism 5 Sept 2012 / 413
9. - The Art Not to Be an Egoist 6 Nov 2012 / 426
10 - Non-Western Philosophy 29 May 2013 / 477
11 - Why Science is Right 2 Sept 2014 / 534
12 - A Philosopher looks at Atheism 1 Jan 2015 / 557
13 - EVIL, a philosophical investigation 17 Apr 2015 / 580
14 - Existentialism and Free Will 2 Sept 2015 / 586
15 - Spinoza 2 Sept 2016 / 615
16 - The Meaning of Life 13 Febr 2017 / 637
17 - In Search of my Self 6 Sept 2017 / 670
18 - The 20th Century Revisited 3 Apr 2018 / 706
19 - The Pessimist 11 Jan 2020 / 819
20 - The Optimist 9 Febr 2020 / 824
21 - Awakening from a Neoliberal Dream 8 Oct 2020 / 872
22 - A World Full of Patterns 1 Apr 2021 / 912
23 - The Concept of Freedom 8 Jan 2022 / 965
[13:20] Daruma Boa: materialism is the result of what we think;-)
[13:20] herman Bergson: And let me make Bejiita even happier and yell QUANTUM MECHANICS
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well i look forward to what its about to churn out, unfortunatley due to involvment with russia publishing of all new discoveries this last year seems to have ground to a halt
[13:20] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i dont know the exact story
[13:20] herman Bergson: Interesting point Daruma.....
[13:20] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): also before i forget I really did find a ted talk i liked better about believing
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UVfqtfQBc
[13:21] Daruma Boa: Yes everything is energy. So our thoughts.
[13:21] oola Neruda: ABSOLUTEY... QUANTUM
[13:21] Daruma Boa: We create the world we ive in
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but it was just grinding out stuff in 2022 so something it must have found
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): upgraded and all
[13:21] herman Bergson: If you take it one step further you could say, that everything is the result of what we think
[13:21] Daruma Boa: yes.
[13:21] Daruma Boa: Nothing comes to live without thinking
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:21] herman Bergson: This is however debatable....
[13:21] Daruma Boa: Well, perhaps nature
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i see
[13:21] Daruma Boa: But that another story...
[13:21] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:21] herman Bergson: For instance...
[13:22] Daruma Boa: Only the planets we seed are the result of our thoughts
[13:22] Daruma Boa: We don't do planting without a thought
[13:22] herman Bergson: when you stand on top of a skyscraper, you can think what you want, but you will fall down if you step over the edge
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:22] Daruma Boa: Why are you standing there?
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): unless u are a game character programmed to be able to fly
[13:23] herman Bergson: So, reality must be more that just what we think
[13:23] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): looking at all the creations of thoughts
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but thats not part of real physics but simulated
[13:23] Daruma Boa: We always do something because there is something in our mind which said, do it.
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i cant alter real physics
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i cant turn off or invert gravity by writing code
[13:23] oola Neruda: and all the things created by particles colliding
[13:23] herman Bergson: All the creations of thoughts could be seen as interpretations of our interaction with matter
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like i can in unity or UE
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed, the smallest building blocks
[13:24] Daruma Boa: As above so below;-) We always interact.
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): source of everything
[13:24] Daruma Boa: Its like a circle.
[13:24] Daruma Boa: But when u only react to matter - your surroundings, you are a victim
[13:24] herman Bergson: to some extend.....
[13:25] Daruma Boa: You must let your ideas and thoughts rule your life
[13:25] Daruma Boa: ;-)
[13:25] herman Bergson: you only can react to gravity, or biochemical processes in your body
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yep
[13:25] Daruma Boa: These can be also ruled by mind. But you must have a real calm mind.
[13:26] Daruma Boa: Not ruled by matter;-)
[13:26] herman Bergson: I prefer to have my ideas interact with reality, Daruma....and thus test them, for instance
[13:26] Daruma Boa: Yes, of course it must be tested.
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:27] Daruma Boa: But mind has many possibilities
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): very important
[13:27] Daruma Boa: only meditation helps to keep stress out of your body
[13:27] Daruma Boa: as an example
[13:27] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it certainly helps
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa
[13:28] herman Bergson: I never meditated and almost all of the time I have felt relaxed:-)
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): lucky
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): I have tried it some times
[13:28] Daruma Boa: ok lets keep smoking weed aside;-)
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): haha well i meditate in the shower often
[13:29] Daruma Boa: *GIGGLES* :)~~~~
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as im a water loving guy
[13:29] herman Bergson: The thesis "If you meditate you'll feel relaxed" is ok
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so don't need weed for that
[13:29] CONNIE Eichel is online.
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:29] Daruma Boa: no just switching a bit off and calm down - with tea - can help.
[13:29] herman Bergson: But you can't reverse it: If you don't meditate you will not feel relaxed
[13:30] Daruma Boa: I think its also important for everyone to find the way to your inner voice yourself
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): mmmtea
[13:30] Daruma Boa: Everyone is differnt
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yummy
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true true
[13:31] herman Bergson: I still would say, we all are matter
[13:31] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is true and sometimes just looking out the window can be relaxing
[13:31] Daruma Boa: *GIGGLES* :)~~~~
[13:31] Daruma Boa: true herman!
[13:31] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): not in Russia Gemma :))
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): oh i am not sure beertje
[13:32] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): they fall out of windows
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): teh people there feel comfortable in their beliefs
[13:32] herman Bergson: oola can tell you that it is a beautiful country :-)
[13:32] oola Neruda: back to the subject.... astronomers who know Quantum physics that have the background to understand this subject...HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS
[13:32] Daruma Boa: yes the unknown is for most humans very frightened
[13:32] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): scary
[13:33] Daruma Boa: also when its the good choice
[13:33] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): trying to understand it that is
[13:33] Daruma Boa: when u leave the coomfort zone of the known
[13:33] herman Bergson: Yes oola, next lecture are going to be a bit difficult for me....
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i might be able to give u some hints
[13:33] herman Bergson: have to study hard on the subject because I am not a physicist :-)
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:34] oola Neruda: my husband and our friends are high energy physicists
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (hands Herman the entire documentation on how LHC works)
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): wow
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hehe3
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): here u go!
[13:34] herman Bergson: I know how to programm particles here in SL, but at home...only in the kitchen :-)
[13:34] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hope you don't talk about it all the time
[13:34] Daruma Boa: oi kitchen particles. sounds delicious.
[13:35] herman Bergson: I'll try to keep it philosophically relevant Gemma
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like frying spatter?
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): i mean Oola and her husband
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): and friends
[13:35] herman Bergson: ahhh...
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:35] oola Neruda: don't need to...
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): good
[13:36] oola Neruda: but at the moment we are taking a class in the universe given by a man who teaches it
[13:36] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ooh nice
[13:36] herman Bergson: The matter of today is, that the days of thinking of matter as colliding little particles are over.....
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its more to it
[13:36] oola Neruda: so it is a different take on it from what the usual chatter on it is
[13:36] herman Bergson: We hardly understand what matter is....
[13:37] Daruma Boa: Our thoughts create particles in our body -
[13:37] herman Bergson: You hear the craziest things about quantum effects
[13:37] Daruma Boa: particles of energy;-)
[13:37] Daruma Boa: *GIGGLES* :)~~~~
[13:37] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok i think that is true
[13:37] Daruma Boa: well anyway - thoughts create our feelings
[13:37] Daruma Boa: creatwe
[13:37] herman Bergson: particles that only become particles the moment you look at them, measure them
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): multiple simultaneous states
[13:38] Daruma Boa: yes a diary is important in life
[13:38] Daruma Boa: to note down all the energy, feelings, particles
[13:38] herman Bergson: But what creates our thoughts Daruma???
[13:38] Daruma Boa: WE
[13:38] Daruma Boa: the brain
[13:38] Daruma Boa: we are able to do t hat
[13:38] Daruma Boa: thats why the human race thinks it is so special
[13:38] herman Bergson: problem is that we don't know how we do it :-))
[13:39] Daruma Boa: I am not sure about that
[13:39] Daruma Boa: Cos we are not really able to think in a objective and ethical way.
[13:39] herman Bergson: The eternal problem....the relation between matter (brain) and mental phenomena
[13:39] Daruma Boa: We are ruled by our ego
[13:39] Daruma Boa: But thats a long story and something for another class,-)
[13:39] Daruma Boa: class
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well its hard to grasp
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): a bit
[13:40] herman Bergson: We only have an EGO since Freud :-))
[13:40] theo Velde is offline.
[13:40] Daruma Boa: ;-)
[13:40] Daruma Boa: ah - Freud the devil
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:40] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is a good word tho
[13:41] Daruma Boa: But I am sure it was always there. But with Freud it got a name
[13:41] herman Bergson: Anyway...we're heading into the complexities of contemporary philosophy and modern materialist thinking.
[13:41] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): that is what i think
[13:41] Daruma Boa: everything is connected;-)
[13:41] herman Bergson: But if you look at the graphics behind me.....
[13:42] herman Bergson: what happens when the scores hit the 0 axis....if religion gets extinct
[13:43] herman Bergson: Generations become more and more science oriented....
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): less conflicts, although Putins is not religion induced
[13:43] herman Bergson: Eventually science will be the only belief system and materialism its ontology :-)
[13:44] oola Neruda: or selfish... like the current Republicans who are working under what's his name... that I will not say out loud
[13:44] herman Bergson: Kevin McCarthy
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): I don't think it will in spite of science ... science will be interpreted differently
[13:44] oola Neruda: wash your mouth out with soap
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): lol
[13:44] Daruma Boa: haha
[13:44] herman Bergson: Voldemort
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): looool
[13:45] herman Bergson: I apologize oola.....
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:45] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:45] oola Neruda: i know you don't mean bad things
[13:45] oola Neruda: it was just a ...slip of the moment
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): certain words have to be spoken once in a while
[13:46] herman Bergson: it was....^_^
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): to remind us
[13:46] herman Bergson: Yes....then....
[13:46] herman Bergson: let me give you the last words....
[13:46] herman Bergson: Class dismissed....:-))
[13:46] oola Neruda: true, Gemma
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:46] Daruma Boa: dank je wel
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): watch that ted talk i passed
[13:46] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7UVfqtfQBc
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): homework
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): it is enjoyable too
[13:47] herman Bergson: yeah!
[13:47] Daruma Boa: do we have homework?
[13:47] herman Bergson: The TED talk
[13:47] Daruma Boa: ah ok
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): we had it over the weekend and this is the result
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ill check that
[13:47] Daruma Boa: thanks for the wonderful lesson
[13:47] oola Neruda: will watch it now
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice again
[13:48] herman Bergson: My pleasure Daruma
[13:48] bergfrau Apfelbaum: (( thank you again! Herman and class:-) ))
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): see you soon
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hugs gemma
[13:48] Daruma Boa waves
No comments:
Post a Comment