10 FEB 2018 by ideonexus
Principles of Adult Behavior by John Perry Barlow
Be patient. No matter what.
Don’t badmouth: Assign responsibility, not blame. Say nothing of another you wouldn’t say to him.
Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.
Expand your sense of the possible.
Don’t trouble yourself with matters you truly cannot change.
Expect no more of anyone than you can deliver yourself.
Tolerate ambiguity.
Laugh at yourself frequently.
Concern yourself with what is right rather than who is right.
Never forget that,... 1 
notes
notes08 NOV 2013 by ideonexus
All Must be Accomplished with Existing Human Material
To the social philosopher and the enlightened social reformer, and best of all to the plain citizen taking thought of these matters, the first step in the right direction, the first basic principle that must underlie an understanding of the present Social Disorder and be imbedded in the foundation of the Social Order to come, should be the real and effective recognition that all that may be accomplished must be accomplished with the existing human material.
Not Angels.
1 notes
notes"Not Angels."
23 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
A Better Future for Our Children
Our children will enjoy in their homes electrical energy too cheap to meter. ... Transmutation of the elements, unlimited power, ability to investigate the working of living cells by tracer atoms, the secret of photosynthesis about to be uncovered, these and a host of other results, all in about fifteen short years. It is not too much to expect that our children will know of great periodic famines in the world only as matters of history, will travel effortlessly over the seas and under the an...
1 Our children will experience a world made better through science.
11 JUN 2012 by ideonexus
Science is Disconnected from the Needs of Man
A plain, reasonable working man supposes, in the old way which is also the common-sense way, that if there are people who spend their lives in study, whom he feeds and keeps while they think for him—then no doubt these men are engaged in studying things men need to know; and he expects of science that it will solve for him the questions on which his welfare, and that of all men, depends. He expects science to tell him how he ought to live: how to treat his family, his neighbours and the men... 1 notes
notesIt gives useless facts, while the average man is seeking meaning.
18 MAR 2012 by ideonexus
Jargon Scares People Away from Science
I would have you to observe that the difficulty & mystery which often appear in matters of science & learning are only owing to the terms of art used in them, & if many gentlemen had not been rebuted by the uncouth dress in which science was offered to them, we must believe that many of these who now shew an acute & sound judgement in the affairs of life would also in science have excelled many of those who are devoted to it & who were engaged in it only by necessity &... 1 notes
notesHaving to work through technical terminology is a barrier to bringing science to everyone.
31 JAN 2012 by ideonexus
Scientific Revolution
Although few expressions are more commonly used in writing about science than 'science revolution,' there is a continuing debate as to the propriety of applying the concept and term 'revolution' to scientific change. There is, furthermore, a wide difference of opinion as to what may constitute a revolution. And although almost all historians would agree that a genuine alteration of an exceptionally radical nature (the Scientific Revolution) occurred in the sciences at some time between the la...Folksonomies: scientific revolution
Folksonomies: scientific revolution
1 notes
notesWhat is a revolution? What causes it? When did it begin? Scholars disagree on these matters.
25 JUL 2011 by ideonexus
School Kills Scientific Inquiry
Again, in the customs and institutions of schools, academies, colleges, and similar bodies destined for the abode of learned men and the cultivation of learning, everything is found adverse to the progress of science. For the lectures and exercises there are so ordered that to think or speculate on anything out of the common way can hardly occur to any man. And if one or two have the boldness to use any liberty of judgment, they must undertake the task all by themselves; they can have no adva... 1 notes
notesThe structure of curriculum is to set a path and provide no deviation from it, but deviation from the path is the stuff of scientific discovery.
30 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
The Enlightenment was not an "Enlightened Age"
If it is now asked, "Do we presently live in an enlightened age?" the answer is, "No, but we do live in an age of enlightenment." As matters now stand, a great deal is still lacking in order for men as a whole to be, or even to put themselves into a position to be able without external guidance to apply understanding confidently to religious issues. But we do have clear indications that the way is now being opened for men to proceed freely in this direction and that the obstacles to general e... 1 notes
notesThe Enlightenment is a journey not a destination.
08 MAY 2011 by ideonexus
Science is an Equal-Opportunity Critic
Again, the reason science works so well is partly that built-in error-correcting machinery. There are no forbidden questions in science, no matters too sensitive or delicate to be probed, no sacred truths. That openness to new ideas, combined with the most rigorous, sceptical scrutiny of all ideas, sifts the wheat from the chaff. It makes no difference how smart, august or beloved you are. You must prove your case in the face of determined, expert criticism. Diversity and debate are valued. O...Science's error-correcting mechanisms hit everyone equally, but all ideas are welcome for scrutiny.
24 JAN 2011 by ideonexus
Introduction to the Jefferson Bible
THE PHILOSOPHY OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
Extracted from the account of his life and doctrines as given by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Being an abridgment of the New Testament for the use of the Indians, unembarrassed with matters of fact or faith beyond the level of their comprehensions. [emphasis mine]Folksonomies: founding fathers separation of church and state
Folksonomies: founding fathers separation of church and state
1 The first title of Jefferson's pairing down of the New Testament gospels states clearly the purpose of the text.
