dangerous ideas

[strmrdr]

The Edge Annual Question — 2006

WHAT IS YOUR DANGEROUS IDEA?

The history of science is replete with discoveries that were considered socially, morally, or emotionally dangerous in their time; the Copernican and Darwinian revolutions are the most obvious. What is your dangerous idea? An idea you think about (not necessarily one you originated) that is dangerous not because it is assumed to be false, but because it might be true?


http://www.edge.org/q2006/q06_index.html

 

[strmrdr]

http://www.edge.org/q2006/q06_2.html#schank

best one Iv read so far.

 

[strmrdr]

My dangerous idea:
The goverment isnt the answer and just makes any problem worse.

What is your dangerous idea?

 

[rubydick]

Strm,

Wow, you've really opened up something here. Reading through the posts from the link you listed was eye-opening, to say the least. When I read the words of David Lykken, Susan Blackmore, compare them to those of Clay Shirky, then to those of the other great thinkers on those pages, I am amazed.

What's my great idea, my edgy question? We've got some exremely intelligent people with us, some true einsteins. Some move the ball along in one direction, others in another.

When one moves around the world, one finds differences in both theology and culture, but basic needs and desires are remarkably similar, no matter their cloak.

So here's my Edge Idea: Faith is just that: a name, an empty vessel, a container, something that can be filled with either good, bad, or, in most cases, a combination of the two.

The name I put on my vessel is just that: a name. The vessel is a ship at sea. Will it become a warship sent to destroy another, or will it become a raft upon which the less fortunate can cling to on their way to a better life? It often depends upon the captain and the direction that leader sets.

In the end, the measure of a vessel's worth is whether it beaches us upon a better shore or simply leaves us adrift at sea.

That's my dangerous idea. Thanks again for asking the question.

 

[AGBF]

I cannot read Storm's links before 6:00 am. This discussion looks as if it's going to be a deep one! See you all later, after I wake up!

Deb

PS-The time stamp by Pricescope is off. It's earlier than the time stamp says!

 

[valeria101]

Date: 1/4/2006 2:04:50 AM
Author: Richard Hughes


So here's my Edge Idea: Faith is just that: a name, an empty vessel, a container, something that can be filled with either good, bad, or, in most cases, a combination of the two.

(Relatively) greenhorn me found this reading philosophy when I still had the nerve. You may find allot of ink spent on it in the interbellic anthropology and history of religions. My crush then was a particular Romanian philosopher who went along the line: he then ended in the States and relatively well known: Mircea Eliade.

 

[valeria101]

Thanks for opening the thread Strm!

Can''t remember now who has this tag line on this forum (approx.) ''if we talk about what we think it makes more conversation than talking about what we know'' - pretty cool. Not that that bit of wisdom could possibly prevent the following...

My 2c:

The source:

During the past years I had the luck to tag along the intellectual war between the US and EU ''lines'' in political economy. The image of dusty scholarly dispute may not seem too appealing, but it does catch up allot of the real wars, including the trans-Atlantic cross fire over Iraq and recently, market liberalism and labor reforms. All in all, each academic tribe has wisdom about its own and opinions about others. You get some fun chatter among colleagues keeping assumptions unrealistic enough for comfort, until some real world guru comes by demanding unshakable results from the wobbly oracle. God knows I''ve given more than a penny for their thoughts.

Citing Dennis Dutton’s bit among the existing Edge essays: “Though the politics remains as strong as ever in academe, Theory has atrophied not because it was refuted, but because everyone got bored with it.”

And the mantra:

Politicians, Economists and the Greek Gods could never do wrong or let mortals know about it.

Where are the negative results of science?

 

[blodthecat]

Has anyone out there ever read the Brian Weiss book ''many lives, many masters'' Even if you don''t believe in life after death, it is still good reading.

I think more people are exploring their own spirituality these days, rather than organised religion.

Another of my favourites is ''Autobiography of a Yogi'' It is absolutely fancinating....I had to read it twice to take it all in.

If you have read any of these titles, I would love to hear your thoughts/opinions??

Blod

 

[Matata]

Wow wow wow. My head hurts in a very good way. I''m intrigued by Stephen Kosslyn''s piece and a few of the others that address science & religion.

Thanks Storm.

 

[strmrdr]

each response there could trigger a full weeks discussion.
We will have to discuss some of them after more people get a chance to read them.
Some I very strongly agree with some very strongly disagree with and some are down right intriguing.

 

[partgypsy]

Storm, thanks for the post and link. Some very interesting views.
(One of) my dangerous views is that free market forces and corporations, by the way they do business, are designed to maximize exploitation of land, resources, people, and also displace or hide costs that make it difficult to see the true cost of an item or service. Unless other values are placed at least equal to market forces (such as understanding the value of conserving limited resources on which we all depend) those forces unrestrained may ultimately cause the collapse of the societies who created the idea of "free market." There will be alot of collateral damage on the rest of the planet as well.