JLH:
Culture is, by definition, an institutionalizing (codifying) force. But in
each culture, different shards of pre-cultural social organization are
present or absent in varying degrees, which accounts for the differences
between them--the size of a culture's law libraries might be one measure,
but not necessarily an absolute one. But the extent to which a culture
relies on (coercive) codes RATHER than (voluntary) social mores is a measure
of how authoritarian it is. While "science" is always in danger of being
authoritarian (and in net effect--and sometimes by intention-- it often is),
the questioning nature of science tends to preserve its social (cooperative)
warp and woof, no matter how colored it has been, is, or can be, with the
taint of unquestionable authority. To the extent that science reflects the
essential qualities of ecosystems, its underlying character remains
resilient and adaptable.
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jamie Lewis Hedges" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 9:01 AM
Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Humans in the definition of ecosystems
WT,
In thinking of "culture as a psychological phenomenon that serve(s) a
utilitarian purpose--that of permitting humans to manipulate their
environment", it is important to state that this manipulation (culture) has
beeen in many contexts, and can continue to be in given contexts, both
utilitarian for humans and beneficial to their environment. While the
"institutionalization of mistakes" does seem to be a characteristic behavior
of modern Western Culture, it is certainly neither a characteristic
definitive of culture nor a behavior characteristic of all cultures.
Otherwise, we are without hope, and science is merely a utility for
institutionalizing those mistakes.
jlh
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone, powered by CREDO Mobile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.439 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2981 - Release Date: 07/04/10
06:35:00
