"But it is much less certain that the second great
problem of learning has been cracked. Many, indeed,
doubt that it can be solved at all. The 20th century
record is not exactly encouraging when one takes into
account the millions slaughtered in countless wars,
the millions killed in death camps, the all too many
totalitarian regimes, the billions living today in
conditions of abject poverty in the third world, the
annihilation of languages, cultures and traditional
ways of life during the century, the destruction of
natural habitats and the rapid extinction of species."
- Can Humanity Learn to become Civilized?
The Crisis of Science without Civilization
(Published in Journal of Applied Philosophy 17, 2000,
29-44.)
Nicholas Maxwell
Emeritus Reader in Philosophy of Science at University
College London
Death across the board. What is happening?
(The second problem he discusses is as the title of
this article I'm reading, "Can Humanity Learn to
become Civilized?") What does civilized mean? I'm
just starting to read the article now, but as much
death that Western Civilization has reaped around the
world in the last 500 years is so striking. Not only
thousands of cultures, but plant species. What is
this dynamic quality? I say dynamic quality because I
can't find the static patterns at this moment to
explain this havoc. Maxwell is pointing towards our
lack of focus on societies on-going need for wisdom.
thanks.
SA
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