Oct 26 2012: This short 15 minute video is related to this topic & a fascinating topic on the application of the scientific method to society. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83LAk3BT7no
Oct 26 2012: I think you are confusing the method, and the misuse of the method. I think this short 15 minute video explains it better than I can. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83LAk3BT7no
Oct 14 2012: I am curious RH and would appreciate some reminders/examples of "disasters and abominations" produced by the scientific method. Just 2 or 3 of the big examples would be plenty if you get the chance.
Oct 13 2012: Mats, I read your original post and I agree with the assertion that the earth has ample resources currently to provide for all. It seems there are some small, isolated examples of groups of humans living within this type of pattern, all of which are indigenous people living as they have for centuries. We live in a technologically advanced 'Western' culture. We clearly cannot and would not want to go backwards to a primitive culture and forget the positives aspects to our technological progress of the past, so we need to answer, how do we move forward. I hope we start to see more open discussions like those going on here on TED and elsewhere on the internet, about possible new directions, and put those to the test in medium to large scale experiments with appropriate financial and popular support. Some groups have already started, for instance I've recently heard of "The Atlas Initiative", but it seems the project has been suffering from a lack of financial support.
Oct 13 2012: To me the basic answer is because our social system or culture compared to the history of the planet, is still in the very early stages. Thru the scientific method huge advances are made in many, many fields that affect our daily lives. Yet our collective ideologies on economy and governance are quite old and some would say quite outdated. The power structure is maintained thru the monetary system, of that there shouldn't be much doubt. Search YouTube for "The Secret of Oz", winner of best documentary of 2010 for a powerful visual. To put it simply, we are born into a world culture of consumption and competition. Profit rules the day not community, and that profit over the years has been used to influence the entire system from direct political influence, to media, to education ... this dogma of profit & ownership permeates most if not all aspects of the global culture, to the point where many have been lead to believe it is "human nature". We have to pay to live on this planet we were born onto, because it benefits some of the population (which some in the past have called their 'divine right'), and using those benefits, they have established a system of indoctrination so powerful, even those who receive a sliver of the benefits are champions of the system.
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A comment on Conversation: Connecting the Dots for a Better World
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A reply on Conversation: Connecting the Dots for a Better World
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