Big Think

Ryan Greek on October 11, 2008, 2:16 PM

I agree, however, I think we can form better societies with a less dogmatic form of community involvement. The question is, how do we proliferate such an idea quickly?

shawn disney on March 17, 2009, 8:42 PM

Excellent point about this conflict; but the Scientific Side is unfortunately not applying the scientific method to the discussion. It is not very scientific to overlook the possibility that the basic unit of humanity is not the “Individual” (a Social Construct) but a Group. Basic units in Physics are Energy, cycles, and Fields. “Individual” need not be a basic one, any more than an"Atom" is. If you put it all together, Physics can easily have a more “true” and comprehensible story than the Alternative (if one can call it that). Adoption of the Field Axiom has a lot of useful and interesting realworld implications, such as the frivolousness of “Nations” whose borders don’t coincide with its component group. disigny

shawn disney on March 17, 2009, 8:50 PM

Ryan: The utopian idea of forming desirable groups , and brainwashing the troops into accepting it (enthusiastically) has a very long and dismal history. Consider the possibility that the groups were there first, and are almost intractable; it might be better to work with what’s there, and to promote it, instead of trying to “reform” it. For instance, we should be trying to help the Amish lifestyle, rather than to destroy it. We should protect minorities rather than try to “assimilate” them (halfheartedly) disigny

Brandon Boosz on March 23, 2009, 6:32 PM

Whether or not you believe the evolution or creation theory, it is inevitable to see that the outcasts of society (those who do not conform to social norms) are generally cut off from the mainstream benefits of culture. If what you are suggestion is true, those who do not belong in the group are considered weaker and therefore evolutionary theory would suggest they should be rid of. I think that we are, and always have been, creatures of like-minded acceptance. Just like a wild animal will cast out an abnormal part of their group so to not cause harm to the group, human beings also do that. I am a firm believer in the creation theory, but I still believe that human nature is not much different instinctively from animals. Which is why evolutionary theories are so widely accepted. But simply because we have animal instincts and tendencies does not mean we evolved from primitive beings.