Quote:
Originally posted by Suki
Is humanity's ultimate goal to become scientific,logical, rational thinkers?
. . . Humans in the past and in the present have exhibited with alarming regularity their illogical, unscientific side of thinking, (facetiously speaking this includes a certain hillbilly from Bairoa). Can we extrapolate then Raul that humans are not destined to be logical? Who's going to win the battle between logic and emotion (passion) in the human mind. To end facetiously on a question, Raul, what's our future....Mr. Spock or Bones "Dr.McCoy"? Love to hear from you. Suki.
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Suki,
I believe that the short answer to your question is
neither.
It occurs to me that thought (the ability to contemplate) is driven by emotional response, which, in turn, arises from the requirements of our biology. The ultimate requirement of that biology, of course, is simply survival.
Consider the following question: When I get up in the morning, why do I put on shoes? Answer: I put on shoes so that I won't die. If I go to work barefoot, people will think that I am weird, important people like my boss. If people think that I am weird, I might lose my job. If I lose my job, I might not be able to pay my mortgage. If I can't pay my mortgage, I might end up on the sreets. If I end up on the streets, I might succumb to the elements. Therefore, I put on shoes so that I won't die!
Simply put, every atom, molecule, and cell of our body is engaged in a moment by moment life or death struggle for survival of the organism which they comprise. I believe that the resulting "will to survive" of the organism is at the core of human motivation and is the driver of emotion and thought. The game is to stave off the grim reaper, to allay our most fundamental biological concern. To that end, we seek to wrap ourseles in the security of romance, friendship, esteem of colleagues, possessions, and all of the pleasant diversions that are presented to us. In this way, I do not see thought as disconnected from emotion.
Is human thought in transition from mystical thinking to reality-based thinking? Clearly it is. You are in Macedonia. The year is 600 BC. You look into the daytime sky and contemplate a blindingly radiant and powerful object. What can it be? Why, of course! It's a golden chariot of the gods being drawn across the heavens. The source of mystical thinking is rather clear, isn't it? When you encounter something that demands an explanation, and there is none, you create the explanation. Certainly, no one after Copernicus saw a golden chariot in the daytime sky.
Science provides the answers that we must have for all that we experience in the universal realm in which we exist. The greater our understanding of that existence, the less apt we are to be courted by the metaphysical. In science, I see a dawn of awakening for human understanding. If the race survives, I believe that understanding will take humanity to places not yet imagined. I do not see that understanding as inimical to human emotion, unless, of course, through it we are able to reshape our biology to immortality.
Well, Suki, I have a question for you. Did you mention in one of your posts that you are a mambera? Or did I just dream that part? I'm considering resurrecting my mambo workshop now that I am in the island. I've got a steplist of 100 or so mambo shines from the Palladium era. I had the good fortune of connecting with Eddie Torres in New York, and I've patterned my workshop after his. For my money, Eddie is the leading exponent of mambo in the world today. Do you know him? An Eddie Torres dance exhibition is not to be missed! Since I don't get much news from NY these days, if you happen to hear about Eddie, I would appreciate an update.
Regards, Raul