tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post8495762521037081084..comments2023-10-20T14:22:04.370+01:00Comments on Pete Mc's Blog: A Confused Work EthicPete McAdamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120630058084487397noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-88041190382951757872013-05-08T23:45:01.051+01:002013-05-08T23:45:01.051+01:00Any method at all will be fine by me, so long as i...Any method at all will be fine by me, so long as it doesn't rely on wishful thinking and deciding something must be there before looking for it. I have little doubt that existence is far more mysterious than we can ever know. Andrew MacLaren-Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275686573421308677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-87943552298698484592013-05-08T19:52:20.482+01:002013-05-08T19:52:20.482+01:00I appreciate your honesty Andrew. FWIW, I have no ...I appreciate your honesty Andrew. FWIW, I have no problem with the natural selection model you mention.<br />Soul and spirit? I expect you are looking for empirical evidence. There is non, yet. Belief plays a part. I would stake my life on their existence, but I may struggle to prove it to you.<br />Is the scientific method is the only measure by which such things are to be proven?Pete McAdamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120630058084487397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-38316570846525785792013-05-08T16:02:21.285+01:002013-05-08T16:02:21.285+01:00Who knows if we are "mere" biological ma...Who knows if we are "mere" biological machines? certainly not me, and nor, I expect, you. My point is that natural selection continues, because it is simply the preferential continuation of the genes of those individuals who are best adapted to the current circumstance to send their genes into future generations. <br /><br />The "soul" and the "spirit" are concepts invented by humans that may or may not correspond to something real. If they do correspond to something real I am pretty sure they will be very different from what we can conceive of, but I am not afraid nor ashamed nor uncomfortable in saying, "I just don't know" (and neither does anyone else, whatever they may say).Andrew MacLaren-Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275686573421308677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-89398083769567403232013-05-07T21:57:31.147+01:002013-05-07T21:57:31.147+01:00Andrew, Im not sure I really understand what you a...Andrew, Im not sure I really understand what you are saying. The problem for me is that I do not accept that we are merely biological machines. What of the soul or spirit? Pete McAdamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120630058084487397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-34902961237030946582013-05-07T18:34:45.556+01:002013-05-07T18:34:45.556+01:00Moggsy, I suppose what I am trying to get at is th...Moggsy, I suppose what I am trying to get at is that those who rule, do not necessarily have the character that you would expect of a ruler. They operate under a different set of standards to most of us, IE pliability is their greatest asset. They are often sociopaths, or in the employ of sociopaths.<br />I seriously question their legitimacy.<br />I try to keep things in light digestible portions. <br />As for Darwinism, there are some merits but on the whole, count me out ;-0Pete McAdamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120630058084487397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-84958643330329287782013-05-07T10:03:23.557+01:002013-05-07T10:03:23.557+01:00Pete I think your reasoning odes not go far enough...Pete I think your reasoning odes not go far enough. <br /><br />You say "Those who wield power in this mixed up western society, would be the least likely to survive in the world of natural selection."<br /><br />You see those inheriting wealth as weak or unfit? Well firstly those who inherit wealth and power usually inherit the genes of those who gained the wealth and power, success is arguably a measure of fitness of some sort. Also they do say a fool and their money are soon parted. So if the inheritors can hang on to wealth and turn it into power they are probly not really fools or unfit after all. <br /><br />Also natural selection just refers to the environment the genes find themselves in, if it is urban civilisation, or in a jungle, or savannah.<br /><br />And that chief you talk about, he is probably also the one who can get the most people on his side by whatever means, maybe a combination of having tough henchmen, being smart, good at being popular and making sure people owe him favours - politicing in other words.Moggsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16665497594666463030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-90247305295823276932013-05-06T21:44:13.408+01:002013-05-06T21:44:13.408+01:00"... would be the least likely to survive in ..."... would be the least likely to survive in the world of natural selection"<br /><br />We never left it. We are living in it. And "fittest" in that context simply means most likely to reproduce. Everything we do is natural (including making plastics and microelectronics and genetic engineering and pesticides and etc...) because we are part of nature. It may not all be nice or good or wise, but it is as natural as a crow using a twig as a tool. And natural selection cannot be turned off. even though, thanks to our own natures, we may influence it, naturally...Andrew MacLaren-Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01275686573421308677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-44598447827783461072013-05-06T12:45:40.316+01:002013-05-06T12:45:40.316+01:00Yes that's it James. I especially dislike mill...Yes that's it James. I especially dislike millionaire politicians (regardless of party) lecturing us about a work ethic which they personally, have no experience of.Pete McAdamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120630058084487397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8342559974155743085.post-10577736485430384692013-05-06T11:45:42.822+01:002013-05-06T11:45:42.822+01:00I do have great respect for those types who have b...I do have great respect for those types who have built their lives on the basis of hard work and common decency especially when you contrast them with others who I do not respect. They seem only to be able to duck and dive, yet to the whole world, have the trappings of success. <br /><br />the issue, it seems to me - is did they make that themselves or did they inherit it? It changes everything.James Highamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14525082702330365464noreply@blogger.com