tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202092988208583550.post4948026309618168559..comments2024-03-04T15:09:00.479-08:00Comments on The Scientific Worldview: Sidetracking the Big Bang TheoryGlenn Borchardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09394474754821945146noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202092988208583550.post-5797285436426586782013-08-08T20:22:32.532-07:002013-08-08T20:22:32.532-07:00Great points.
I have no problem with the herd ins...Great points. <br />I have no problem with the herd instinct, we just need to be aware of it when we look at our inner motivations.<br />The biggest problem I have with herds is "herd think", wherein scientific or religious speculation gets elevated to "accepted wisdom" prematurely and inappropriately. We call it "culture", and people emotionally and violently defend culture, while persecuting anyone who questions that culture.<br />Most of today's cultures are based on indeterminism, and the denial of causality that goes along with that fantastic way of thinking.<br />The denial of causality is at the root of all hard-boiled religious fanaticism. And I just gotta wonder what the world would look like without good people having an excuse to do evil.<br />The problem isn't evil, the problem is the recognition of evil.Rick Doogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10623190298260782836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202092988208583550.post-69777236322707310502013-08-08T17:13:46.445-07:002013-08-08T17:13:46.445-07:00Thanks once again Rick.
You sure gave those herds...Thanks once again Rick.<br /><br />You sure gave those herds a rough time! Let me temper that just a bit. Everything and every action in the universe arises through univironmental determinism--whether we like it or not. Herds also have many advantages. Just try to sneak up on a herd of deer with two sticks and string and 10 eyes looking at you. I just learned that even the outside ducks in a flock sitting on the water keep watch while the middle ones sleep. Not only that, the outside eyes of the guard ducks remain open while the inside eyes remain closed. This allows half of the duck's brain a chance to sleep.<br /><br />Every paradigm works the same way, with the scientific one having a clear advantage: observation and experiment. The "herd" in science forms a consensus. For instance, we all agree that water normally runs downhill. It is true that the "herd" supporting the regressive trend in physics appears particularly pernicious. But that is only because we are not in it. Their "logic" and our logic are founded on opposing assumptions. We will develop our own "herd" in which we all agree that the universe infinite. Like all microcosms, regressive physicists exist in a macrocosm that provides the nourishment. That will change. Remember that only a few of the ducks are even half awake. As always, we change the paradigm by pointing out contradictions. Bill just repeated a good one for aether deniers: How can you have a Doppler Effect without a medium?Glenn Borchardthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394474754821945146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202092988208583550.post-88375430594343663902013-08-08T16:30:14.010-07:002013-08-08T16:30:14.010-07:00Great article, Glenn.
I'm always suspicious o...Great article, Glenn. <br />I'm always suspicious of anyone who proclaims that "Human Nature" supports their opinions. "Human Nature" is just another non-specific and unscientific weasel-word phrase.<br />If there is a specific set of natural qualities that make us "human", it would have to be our conceptual abilities and problem-solving skills that help us adapt to less-than-optimal environments. That is where our strength lies.<br />As we often find, our strength is closely tied to our weakness. It's "a blessing and curse".<br />One fatal weakness lies in our adaptation to the herd and their less-than-optimal concepts and fantasies, which historically has served us well enough. Because it was an evolutionary advantage for eons, it is that adaptation to herd culture that leads to such an emotional and even violent reaction to any new idea that challenges the common habits and "accepted knowledge" of the herd. It's that familiar knee-jerk reaction to any paradigm shift that doesn't come from the frontal lobes.<br />That's why you can lay out the plain facts and empirical data in front of someone, and they exhibit an emotional blind spot. <br />Even those who think they are free of herd influence must be wary of this. Introspection is the only cure, and that is sometimes a painful path.<br />Once again, I apologize for belaboring the obvious.<br />Cheers!Rick Doogiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10623190298260782836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202092988208583550.post-49657986280051924662013-02-09T12:51:05.873-08:002013-02-09T12:51:05.873-08:00Glenn writes:
"The BBT is the product of a l...Glenn writes:<br /><i>"The BBT is the product of a long-standing logical evolution among honest folks who grew up believing that contradictions are a necessary ingredient in philosophy."</i><br /><br />... commonly called "paradoxes" or the "inconsistencies" of nature.Rational people consider them logical proof of errors.<br /><br />There's also the Hegelian version: every thesis *must* have an antithesis. Human progress is measured by the synthesis of black and white, to make everything a vague, incomprehensible gray.Westmillerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02865166433794584552noreply@blogger.com