The Devil Is In The Footnotes

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The Devil Is In The Footnotes

thompnickson2

Glen wrote:

 

[] My definition of Evil is simply "willful ignorance". It's not Evil to realize you have a finite lifetime and simply can't learn some subject or another. But it's Evil to insist you've learned all you need to know about some or another subject.

 

Ah, the perils of two-valued logic:  all you need to know for what purpose?  If we are required to know all we need to know before we speak, then we will never speak.  To conclude, therefore, that we should never speak, is a reductio ad absurdum.  We are going to speak.  It might be a reason not to listen, but speech requires no reason.  It’s just what  we do. 

 

Nick  

Nicholas Thompson.

Emeritus Professor of Ethology and Psychology

Clark University

[hidden email]

https://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Friam <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of u?l? ???
Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2020 11:46 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [FRIAM] aftermath

 

Yeah, I tend to agree. But as I age, I'm unfortunately starting to believe the right's rhetoric that some people are just Evil [], and will fight the evidence and confirm their bias until they die. I was recently told that "it's a shame" that the main lesson I was taught as a child was to shut up and listen. I'm not so sure. The world would be a better place if more people, perhaps including me, simply shut up and listened.

 

The *last* think I intend to do is "adopt a posture". What I pride myself on is the ability to listen to another's "posture", repeat it back to them, then obliterate that posture ... hopefully without them feeling "attacked" ... which they always do because I'm incompetent at that part. I think I hunt for and try to obliterate any of my own postures I may be at risk of adopting. But clearly I'm delusional. Others *insist* that I do adopt and retain my own postures. Pffft. I am Towlie. I have no idea what's going on.

 

 

[] My definition of Evil is simply "willful ignorance". It's not Evil to realize you have a finite lifetime and simply can't learn some subject or another. But it's Evil to insist you've learned all you need to know about some or another subject.

 

On 11/25/20 9:26 AM, Steve Smith wrote:

> I suppose I believe/suspect that most of us (and them if there is any

> distinction) are a mix of both.   We adopt postures that "seem like a

> good idea at the time" and then have to try to hold those postures

> when the context around us shifts enough that they become awkward.  In

> my experience there is usually a "gradual awakening" about how

> uncomfortable those postures might be(coming) and recognizing

> opportunities for (un)gracefully shifting one's balance into a new,

> more comfortable/appropriate posture.  I could personal anecdote my

> way through dozens of examples for myself and those nearby, but I

> trust others will have their own experiences with this.

 

--

↙↙↙ uǝlƃ

 

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Zoom Fridays 9:30a-12p Mtn GMT-6  bit.ly/virtualfriam
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