23 APR 2012 by ideonexus
Egotistical Man Doesn't Study Man
In an age of egoism, it is so difficult to persuade man that of all studies, the most important is that of himself. This is because egoism, like all passions, is blind. The attention of the egoist is directed to the immediate needs of which his senses give notice, and cannot be raised to those reflective needs that reason discloses to us; his aim is satisfaction, not perfection. He considers only his individual self; his species is nothing to him. Perhaps he fears that in penetrating the myst...Folksonomies: anthropology improvement
Folksonomies: anthropology improvement
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notes
notesBecause he his concerned only with his immediate wants, not his betterment.
30 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses
It will be observed that the distinction [between hypothesis and theory] is not such as to prevent a working hypothesis from gliding with the utmost ease into a ruling theory. Affection may as easily cling about a beloved intellectual child when named as a hypothesis as if named a theory, and its establishment in the one guise may become a ruling passion very much as in the other. The historical antecedents and the moral atmosphere associated with the working hypothesis lend some good influen...Folksonomies: hypothesis confirmation bias
Folksonomies: hypothesis confirmation bias
1 notes
notesBy maintaining many hypotheses, the scientist does not fall in love with one over the others and fall into the trap of confirmation bias.
21 DEC 2011 by ideonexus
Science is an All-Pervasive Energy
It is not clear to anyone, least of all the practitioners, how science and technology in their headlong course do or should influence ethics and law, education and government, art and social philosophy, religion and the life of the affections. Yet science is an all-pervasive energy, for it is at once a mode of thought, a source of strong emotion, and a faith as fanatical as any in history. 1 notes
notesA "faith as fanatical as any in history"... not sure I see the reasoning behind this quote.
16 DEC 2011 by ideonexus
The Mental Benefits of Studying Mathematics
These Disciplines [mathematics] serve to inure and corroborate the Mind to a constant Diligence in Study; to undergo the Trouble of an attentive Meditation, and cheerfully contend with such Difficulties as lie in the Way. They wholly deliver us from a credulous Simplicity, most strongly fortify us against the Vanity of Scepticism, effectually restrain from a rash Presumption, most easily incline us to a due Assent, perfectly subject us to the Government of right Reason, and inspire us with Re...
1 Understanding, meditation, abstraction, harmony, peace of mind... the list goes on and on.
23 JUL 2011 by ideonexus
The Difference Between Society and Government
Some writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first a patron, the last a punisher.
Society in every state is a blessing, bu... 1 notes
notes"Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness..." Paine argues that government is put in place to protect us from our baser selves.
08 JUL 2011 by ideonexus
Parenting is Responsibility Without Power
Raising children is an intrinsically difficult and uncertain job in ways that science can't really address. For most of us parents there is literally nothing more important than the well-being of our children. There are not many things we could imagine giving our lives for, but we could give our lives for them. And, in a less melodramatic way, of course, we do give our lives for them. For fifteen or twenty years our everyday energy, our individual liberty, our income, our attention, our conce... 1 notes
notesThe parent's job is to be completely responsible for the child, but ultimately raise them to be completely autonomous, rendering the parent powerless over them.
17 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
We Believe What We Want to Be True
The human understanding is no dry light, but receives infusion from the will and affections; whence proceed sciences which may be called 'sciences as one would'. For what a man had rather were true he more readily believes. Therefore he rejects difficult things from impatience of research; sober things, because they narrow hope; the deeper things of nature, from superstition; the light of experience, from arrogance and pride; things not commonly believed, out of deference to the opinion of th... 1 notes
notesBecause of pride, hope, impatience, and a myriad other passions that affect our psyches.
