Subject: Re: gods and men
From: Ed Fenning (ed361@yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Jan 07 2000 - 19:04:34 EST
--- AntiUtopia@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 1/7/00 1:29:14 PM Eastern
> Standard Time,
> seandr@Exchange.Microsoft.com writes:
>
> > Matt:
> > "And logic and rationality are, of course, social
> constructions."
> >
> > I agree that the logic and rationality underlying
> this particular statement
> > are social constructions, but I hesitate to
> generalize.
> >
> > -Sean
>
> We really have two options here:
>
> 1. The supernatural argument, probably best put
> forth by the Greeks, that
> reason is what we humans have in common with the
> gods, that it's above and
> beyond nature, and that we humans are unique in that
> we are both animals and
> participate in this super-natural faculty.
>
> 2. Reason is a social construct.
>
> Take your pick :)
>
> Jim
------------------------------------------------
This is *so* frustrating, since I see these postings
at work, on the sly, it's very hard to read them
through like I want and then give a thoughtful answer
after thinking about them.
---------------------------------------------------
I'm going to put down my thoughts rapidly, so they are
superficial first impressions.
"And logic and rationality are, of course, social
constructions."
I think that reason, logic, and rationality may be
biologically based. We learn them through social
interaction, but ultimately, since they are used by
individuals to benefit each person and their own group
altruistically - this use of reason, logic, and
rationality towards self and group benefit ultimately
means preservation. So, although they may be learned,
since they seem to occur in all human beings, these
capabilities may be part of an innate capacity of the
brain.
Logic and rationality in this sense may be used
independently of what most reasonable people call
'life affirming' values. For example, the ruling
caste in China for example uses Logic and rationality
consistenly to manage situations and protect
themselves.
Thanks folks. I haven't written anything this serious
in a long time ('it shows' I can hear some of you
groaning). I don't have a batchelors and I'm in this
discussion with people who do philosophy probably more
often than they cook dinner. I may be in way over my
head here....
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