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 Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:39 pm
While surfing the World Wide Web, I came upon this quote.
"The core of the belief in progress is that human values and goals converge in parallel with our increasing knowledge. The twentieth century shows the contrary. Human beings use the power of scientific knowledge to assert and defend the values and goals they already have. New technologies can be used to alleviate suffering and enhance freedom. They can, and will, also be used to wage war and strengthen tyranny. Science made possible the technologies that powered the industrial revolution. In the twentieth century, these technologies were used to implement state terror and genocide on an unprecedented scale. Ethics and politics do not advance in line with the growth of knowledge — not even in the long run."- John N.Gray.
Do you agree or disagree with the quote?
As for me, I do. Quite honestly as our society progressed and became more industrialized, our morals and values degraded for higher causes such as money an careers. We seldom find our selves helping others for no reason at all. As we age we become less human due to greed an our ambitions. And this degradation, while certainly caused by our environment is then caused by us because we are the ones that created the environment.
So, once again. What do you all think?
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:11 pm
I don't think our values have degraded as much as just... slowed down. (Dare I say "stopped"?) However, the quote does re-awaken thoughts that the humanities should have more importance placed on them, be it in the form of academic funding, increasing awareness, etc.
The reason for saying it hasn't degraded is because we HAVE been petty in the past. We ARE still petty. This is the common folk we're talking about here. If you look at history, it usually just highlights important figures, usually with either very strong moral principals or very ridiculous ones. What we see in contemporary society is a larger voice coming from the common folk, which is why it gives off the impression that we're getting worse as a whole.
I mean, yes Plato's great, but even back then, he would be a big figure standing out among so many who are simple petty humans.
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shall she sail seas Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:50 pm
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Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:16 pm
I guess we're both waiting for a third perspective now? xp
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shall she sail seas Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:50 pm
That or me to actually get off my bottom and write up a further explanation of my belief and how it may contradict yours. I've been meaning to do that for a while, but the lack of time I have to do that is... crippling to say the least.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:34 pm
That quote's not an opinion, it's a fact. I, therefore, agree with it. I do not, however, agree with you, Nommie. Humans have always gone through a cycle, what I like to call the "Pride Cycle." It starts with normal people who listen to the words of the prophets. They become good, hardworking, God-loving people. As such, God causes them to prosper. Unfortunately, some people think this prosperity comes of their own devices, and they start to get proud (one of the 7 deadly sins, is it not?). As they get proud they get wicked, and as they get wicked God starts to chastise them. Do they listen? Usually, no, so they get slammed down and lose all their things. At this point they are humbled and listen to the Word again. And it starts over.
=> Humility ==> Prosperity ==||
^== Chastisement <== Pride v
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