By its very nature, the only unquestionable authority of science is that all results and methods must be questioned.
Malcolm On Sun, Jul 4, 2010 at 5:35 PM, Wayne Tyson <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 > -- Malcolm L. McCallum Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
