Certainly the humanities have suffered greatly, both at the secondary level and the university level. Educating the human part of us is critical to our democracy and a rational society. I believe it was William Buckley who said that science can tell us how to build an atomic bomb, but it can’t tell us whether or not we ought to use it. Science can’t help us here.
Certainly the humanities have suffered greatly, both at the secondary level and the university level. Educating the human part of us is critical to our democracy and a rational society. I believe it was William Buckley who said that science can tell us how to build an atomic bomb, but it can’t tell us whether or not we ought to use it. Science can’t help us here.
Apr 16, 2022·edited Apr 16, 2022Liked by Christopher B. Barnett
You summarized this so well: "This tendency has flip side. When, despite our best efforts, people nevertheless disagree with us, we perceive it as a threat to our dignity and wellbeing. In order to feel “safe” and “accepted,” we petition for institutional protection—a request that schools, corporations, and governments are all too willing to grant, whether through online feedback portals, evaluation surveys, or formal inquiries. Haidt calls this the “democratization of intimidation." Yes, and builds off his concept of "victim culture" vs. "dignity culture" in the earlier piece "The Coddling of the American Mind."
For all of us who want to think about these things with Christian spirituality traditions in mind, the question that I wonder about is the relationship between a living practicing belief in God and the ability to accept differences and opposition, rather than, needing the control of "absolutizing" their elimination. I really like Kierkegaard's metaphor of the stage, in this regard, the staging of the devotional practice (the individual, God, the others, the crowd) vs. the "staging" of social media. Sorry for long post, just, lots to agree with and think about here. (and pls be sure to click that 'like' button on my comment!)
Certainly the humanities have suffered greatly, both at the secondary level and the university level. Educating the human part of us is critical to our democracy and a rational society. I believe it was William Buckley who said that science can tell us how to build an atomic bomb, but it can’t tell us whether or not we ought to use it. Science can’t help us here.
Certainly the humanities have suffered greatly, both at the secondary level and the university level. Educating the human part of us is critical to our democracy and a rational society. I believe it was William Buckley who said that science can tell us how to build an atomic bomb, but it can’t tell us whether or not we ought to use it. Science can’t help us here.
You summarized this so well: "This tendency has flip side. When, despite our best efforts, people nevertheless disagree with us, we perceive it as a threat to our dignity and wellbeing. In order to feel “safe” and “accepted,” we petition for institutional protection—a request that schools, corporations, and governments are all too willing to grant, whether through online feedback portals, evaluation surveys, or formal inquiries. Haidt calls this the “democratization of intimidation." Yes, and builds off his concept of "victim culture" vs. "dignity culture" in the earlier piece "The Coddling of the American Mind."
For all of us who want to think about these things with Christian spirituality traditions in mind, the question that I wonder about is the relationship between a living practicing belief in God and the ability to accept differences and opposition, rather than, needing the control of "absolutizing" their elimination. I really like Kierkegaard's metaphor of the stage, in this regard, the staging of the devotional practice (the individual, God, the others, the crowd) vs. the "staging" of social media. Sorry for long post, just, lots to agree with and think about here. (and pls be sure to click that 'like' button on my comment!)