If you want to know how biased ChatGPT can be then listen to this about the Seven Cardinal Virtues: -quote- These virtues, though rooted in Western Christian thought,
have striking parallels in the moral and philosophical traditions of other cultures, highlighting a shared human endeavor to define and pursue virtuous living. -end quote-
This "rooted in Western Christian thought" is simply false. The early Christians copy/pasted it from Ancient Greek philosophy and Augustine added three of his own which are theologically inspired and questionable at least.
The AI source BING doesn't mention the Ancient Greek source either. Only the third one I tried, Gemini (Google), reported that "[they] have their roots in ancient Greek philosophy and Christian theology.", which comes closer to the truth.
But mainly I used the AI sources to save me a lot of painstaking research, that is, if they would come up with good answers about parallels between our virtues and those uphold in other cultures and philosophies. They did.
Prudence, the virtue of sound judgment and practical wisdom, is mirrored in the Confucian concept of "zhi". In Confucian philosophy, wisdom is a cornerstone of ethical behavior, enabling individuals to navigate complex social relationships with discernment.
Similarly, in ancient Indian philosophy, the concept of "viveka" emphasizes the power of discrimination between right and wrong, a quality essential for moral decision-making.
In all these traditions, prudence or wisdom is seen as a guiding light, enabling individuals to make choices aligned with higher ethical principles. This wisdom is essential for leading a virtuous life and achieving spiritual liberation.
We know from research on animal behavior, that even some animals have a kind of understanding of fairness. It is the base of our sense of justice and we see that justice, the commitment to fairness and the well-being of others, is a universal value found in diverse cultures.
In African traditions, the concept of "ubuntu", which I discussed in a previous lecture, underscores the importance of communal harmony and fairness, encapsulating the idea that “I am because we are.”
Similarly, ancient Greek philosophy treats justice as a cardinal virtue, as seen in Plato’s works. Across these traditions, justice emerges as a central tenet for ensuring societal balance and moral integrity.
Justice in the Western tradition means giving others their due and acting with fairness. This virtue is echoed in the concept of **ma'at** in Ancient Egyptian culture. Even that long ago people understood life.
Ma'at represents truth, balance, order, and justice, and was considered essential for maintaining harmony in the universe and society. Pharaohs and commoners alike were expected to uphold ma'at in their actions and decisions.
Fortitude, or courage, is celebrated universally as the ability to face challenges and adversity with resilience. In Japanese culture, the concept of "bushido", or the Way of the Warrior, emphasizes courage as a vital quality, particularly in the face of danger or hardship.
Similarly, the Hindu tradition extols "shaurya", valor and bravery, as essential for upholding righteousness. The parallels across cultures highlight a shared admiration for the ability to remain steadfast and morally grounded, even in the face of trials.
These are just a few examples of the shared values of mankind. By examining these parallels, we gain insight into the universal values that unite humanity, transcending cultural and religious divides.
This shared ethical heritage serves as a testament to the profound interconnectedness of human moral thought, offering a foundation for mutual understanding and global harmony.
But the most interesting conclusion for me is, that mankind started his conscious and philosophical life with these insights and then through the centuries step by step began to forget them
and eventually has arrived at the current virtue "How much money do you make and what cost this or that", the virtue of being homo economics, and the slogan "Greed and self-interest are good".
Mentally and spiritually we are still at a rather primitive level, but as I said in the previous lecture, eventually it will be survival of the fittest and in my opinion is that a virtuous homo sapiens.
The floor is yours...thank you...
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
24 - Materialism 7 Sept 2022 / 1011
25 - Historical Materialism 5 Oct 2023 / 1088
26 - The Bonobo and the Atheist 9 Jan 2024 / 1102
27 - Artificial Intelligence 9 Feb 2024 / 1108
28 - Why Am I Here 6 Sept 2024 / 1139
The Discussion
[13:14] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Thank you Herman
[13:14] Daruma Boa: Thank you
[13:14] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): nice
[13:15] herman Bergson: We still live in a tribal world
[13:15] herman Bergson: and look at politics....
[13:15] herman Bergson: politics is the discussion about how we should organize our society...
[13:15] herman Bergson: and what are they talking about all the time?
[13:16] herman Bergson: Money and economics....
[13:16] herman Bergson: If the economy is doing well then everything is ok socially, they think
[13:16] Daruma Boa: True. They think that there is nothing more important. And I guess they also see nothing else in life.
[13:16] Daruma Boa: That's very sad.
[13:16] Daruma Boa: And not only that...
[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa indeed
[13:17] Daruma Boa: it's scary
[13:17] herman Bergson: Let me give you a painful example....
[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): true
[13:17] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): very!
[13:17] herman Bergson: The state earned billions of euros by pumping gas in the province Groningen....
[13:18] herman Bergson: it resulted in earthquakes, damaged homes, worried people and so on....
[13:19] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): creating sinkholes everywhere ect.
[13:19] herman Bergson: and now...some 40 years later they come with w special fund for the people in Groningen, that only got 1% of all profits...a fund for special education, welfare, help with restoring houses etc.
[13:20] herman Bergson: those were not the primary social goals from the beginning of the profitable gas pumping.
[13:21] Daruma Boa: Well there are a lot of CEOs who need cars, clothing,houses... I guess;-)
[13:21] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): they damaged people's houses
[13:21] herman Bergson: All politicians can talk about is the economy....or deporting immigrants because they are a threat to the economy
[13:22] Daruma Boa: Yes. I live in the Netherlands now for 8 years and I know what you are talking about.
[13:22] herman Bergson: Yes Faruma....it is still the case that the rich get richer and the poor poorer
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): :(
[13:23] Daruma Boa: So, what can we do?
[13:23] herman Bergson: Our social organisation is still at a primitive level....
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm indeed seems hopeless at the moment :(
[13:23] herman Bergson: No no, Bejiita...not hopeless....
[13:23] Daruma Boa: But we are all a part of the system.
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm that is true
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well
[13:24] herman Bergson: but it takes time....centuries actually before mankind becomes wiser
[13:24] Daruma Boa: True Herman!
[13:24] Daruma Boa: Also my opinion.
[13:25] Daruma Boa: Everything that we say and do is not for nothing.
[13:25] Daruma Boa: It will grow.
[13:25] herman Bergson: As I said before...we love to see all problems solved within our lifetime....
[13:25] herman Bergson: but that is not realistic
[13:25] Daruma Boa: So many ppl are aware of all the gaps in the system and that politics don't know everything.
[13:25] herman Bergson: liberating women in Western Europe alone took already centuries
[13:26] herman Bergson: in 1956 my mother was not allowed to have a personal bank account...
[13:26] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): true
[13:26] herman Bergson: she had to stop working when she married......no longer allowed
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): horrible times
[13:27] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): she was a slave of her husband
[13:27] Daruma Boa: And voting for women was allowed in the 0s.
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:27] Daruma Boa: As a child, I never thought about that
[13:27] herman Bergson: no no Bejiita....that you only can say with the knowledge of today...
[13:27] Daruma Boa: But now I think - How's that possible?
[13:27] herman Bergson: We had to learn.....that takes time
[13:28] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): woman stood up fighting for their rights
[13:28] herman Bergson: Why the tribe was organized socially in such a way is a complex cultural process and development....
[13:29] herman Bergson: and we have to learn..... and that takes time...
[13:29] Daruma Boa: And it has to have a solid basis I think
[13:29] Daruma Boa: And on this ground, a new culture can grow
[13:29] Daruma Boa: can
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa
[13:30] herman Bergson: We can see what is wrong, but are unable to correct it.....still too many private interests involved....our inability to share..lack of prudence....
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): indeed
[13:30] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i think the basic has to be safe..for men and women..then they can change
[13:31] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the base drive for us need to change from money to something else
[13:31] herman Bergson: Yes Beertje, but we are still far away from this equality
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): very far
[13:32] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:32] herman Bergson: But look at history...
[13:33] herman Bergson: slowly but steadily protests reshape society
[13:33] herman Bergson: eventually women got a right to vote...
[13:33] herman Bergson: in 1964 racial segregation was finally abolished in the US....not the racism...there they still have a lot to learn
[13:34] Daruma Boa: Its a big country;-)
[13:34] Daruma Boa: So it takes time...
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): going in the wrong direction at the moment there for sure
[13:34] herman Bergson: But the KKK mentality is no longer the leading attitude
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): because of a certain orange head
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): that was really awful
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ow indeed
[13:34] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): i mean the KKK
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shudders)
[13:36] herman Bergson: If you do not believe in evolutionary progress, maybe then you have to accept the extinction of mankind as a species
[13:36] herman Bergson: And then we have the planet of the Apes again :-)
[13:36] Daruma Boa: Oh ha.
[13:36] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): something have to change for sure
[13:36] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): maybe much better for the planet
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we are good at destroying that for sure
[13:37] herman Bergson: that is the fun Beertje...it is NOT better for the planet....
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): no?
[13:37] herman Bergson: the planet doesn't give a damn whether we are here or not....
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): true
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): :))
[13:37] herman Bergson: it is better for us if we want to survive
[13:37] Daruma Boa: We must use our brain
[13:37] Daruma Boa: Thats the solution
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): we need to stop destroying botht eh environment and ourselves
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): the
[13:38] Daruma Boa: And knowig what the balance is
[13:38] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): some have none Daruma
[13:38] Daruma Boa: *GIGGLES* :)~~~~
[13:38] Daruma Boa: or only a small one
[13:38] herman Bergson: Yes Daruma, and here an there this is sinking in among people...we are killing ourselves...not this planet....
[13:39] herman Bergson: this planet already exists 4.5 billion years.....
[13:39] herman Bergson: And WE gonna save the planet.....???? Hilarious arrogance
[13:39] Daruma Boa: I try to stop that. But it's hard to reach everyone in your own life.
[13:40] herman Bergson: That is what the Ancient Romans said.....
[13:40] herman Bergson: Gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed saepe cadendo....
[13:40] herman Bergson: The drop hollows the stone not by its force but by folling often
[13:41] Daruma Boa: Absolutely.
[13:41] herman Bergson: We are with whatever we do just thoose drops....
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:41] Daruma Boa: Social Media works like this;-)
[13:42] herman Bergson: Oh yes....tell a lie as often as possible and it becomes the truth
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yes
[13:42] Daruma Boa: In the end it doesn't matter what you post - you must do it only permanently.
[13:42] Daruma Boa: True Herman.
[13:42] Daruma Boa: Thats the point
[13:42] herman Bergson: yes...
[13:42] Daruma Boa: Pppl must learn again to think themselves
[13:42] Daruma Boa: Ad to trust their own feelings
[13:42] Daruma Boa: and judgment
[13:43] herman Bergson: And eventually that will happen, Daruma...
[13:43] Daruma Boa: Without having the applause from a "crowd"
[13:43] Daruma Boa: I hope so too
[13:43] herman Bergson: But maybe not in our lifetime...
[13:43] Daruma Boa: And also to have contact with other ppl is important
[13:44] Daruma Boa: To discuss things
[13:45] herman Bergson: Despite all atrocities and stupidity I still believe in mankind....
[13:46] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yes Darum, that's why I like being here in the class :-)
[13:46] Daruma Boa: ;-) Yes
[13:46] herman Bergson: We HAVE formulated the virtues which make a peaceful and rewarding life for everyone possible....
[13:46] Daruma Boa: True herman. Not everyone is a Trump;-)
[13:46] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): as u say, most peope are ok
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but the few bad destroy sooo mcuh
[13:47] herman Bergson: Oh no...that episode will pass by...
[13:47] herman Bergson: but our brain produced the insights....
[13:47] Daruma Boa: Yes but I also think every one of us is responsible.
[13:48] herman Bergson: That we not yout live by them all the time....ok....we still are learning :-)
[13:48] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): learning the hard way this time
[13:49] herman Bergson: We are still in an infant stage....
[13:49] herman Bergson: do you remember....invention and proliferation of TV.....?
[13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yes:)
[13:49] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): 1952
[13:49] herman Bergson: Yhat would help the world communicating....
[13:49] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah
[13:50] herman Bergson: as a child so happy were we....
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): first radio, then TV
[13:50] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): then Internet
[13:50] herman Bergson: it didn't work that way...
[13:50] herman Bergson: then computers...wow..gonna solve all problems...paperless office...you name it...
[13:50] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): didn't work
[13:50] herman Bergson: The internet...yeah!!!
[13:51] Daruma Boa: We would have never met here without the internet!
[13:51] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): that is true
[13:51] herman Bergson: Does work and does not....but we are as happy as a kid with it...
[13:51] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): true Daruma
[13:51] herman Bergson: and now...the NEW solution to all problems....Artificial Intelligence....yeah!!
[13:51] Daruma Boa: I think everything is fine with what we found out. But the way how we use it makes the difference.
[13:52] Daruma Boa: Also AI
[13:52] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yes!
[13:52] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): can't compare with our own brains
[13:52] Daruma Boa: And in the end, everything is in our mind
[13:52] Daruma Boa: What you think is what you are
[13:52] Daruma Boa: Or what you create
[13:52] herman Bergson: Right Daruma...it works in one way and doesnt in another way..... effects of social media e.g.
[13:52] Daruma Boa: yes
[13:53] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): there has to flow a lot of water to the ocean before we can be called smart
[13:53] herman Bergson: But we keep the good things of radio, tv, computers, internet and so on eventually
[13:53] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): they all still serve a purpose
[13:53] Daruma Boa: I do that;-)
[13:54] herman Bergson: As you see...also in this class we can work on saving the world, that is, ourselves :-)
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa ㋡
[13:55] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ayy
[13:55] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)
[13:55] Daruma Boa: Yes saw the seeds...
[13:55] herman Bergson: So, save yourself and relax the coming weekend...and enjoy the good work you do :-)
[13:55] Daruma Boa: Yes be a good example for everyone;-)
[13:56] herman Bergson: Thank you all again....
[13:56] herman Bergson: Class dismissed...
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: ty so much Herman and class!
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay
[13:56] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): very interesting lecture again
[13:56] Daruma Boa: Thank you and have a good weekend!
[13:56] bergfrau Apfelbaum: happy weekend:-)
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): yeah
[13:56] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:56] herman Bergson: thank you, Beertje
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