Chris: Yeah, Shangri La has genuine charm. Sort of like the current concept of the "Singularity" but
the 1930s version. Based on the concept in Buddhist lore of Shambala, a lost kingdom in the West (their West, today's Afghanistan and other "stans" all of which once were Buddhist or a mix of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. A little of that survives in Ladakh, to the N of Kashmir. BTW, I was meaning to ask you about the SEALS. Besides rappelling out of your bedroom window now when you want to go downstairs, I was wondering if you have picked up on their secrets of objectivity. In the military, especially elite units, you've gotta be objective or else you are dead. Here in the civilian world objectivity often is optional. Which is really unfortunate. For example, suppose you (or me or anyone) wants to criticize someone's idea. We have bad habits, of course, usually addressing ourselves to the person, not the idea, as in "that's really dumb, George, you sure are stupid." Right off the bat "George" becomes defensive and even if his idea really stinks there is an argument about "insulting" George. There has to be some way to make criticisms such that we can discuss problems with an idea or plan or analysis, whatever, that does not get us into an argument about personalities. Think of medicine; it has to be objective. Or petroleum geology. Or structural engineering. Or auto mechanics. Or shipping and receiving. What I'd be very interested in is some kind of sketch, anyway, of how the SEALS are able to ensure maximum objectivity from their people. Anything you can write our would be very much appreciated. Billy ________________________________ From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Chris Hahn <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 7:28 PM To: [email protected]; 'Centroids' Subject: RE: scholarocracy Re: [RC] Forms of Government / explanation Scholocracy etc I loved Lost Horizon. Your atoll sounds like a good 21st century version Billy. From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Billy Rojas Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 5:19 PM To: Centroids <[email protected]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: scholarocracy Re: [RC] Forms of Government / explanation Scholocracy etc E: Yes, it does sound like classical China with its official state exams and recruitment into the administration from the country's elite schools (whether these were true universities is another question). There was also Nalanda in India, which was mostly Buddhist but with a good number of Hindu scholars in the mix. It had official patronage under the Guptas and under Harsha. Destroyed (or about 80% destroyed) by Muslims in the 1200s. Possibly the world's first true university. Very large, with all kinds of buildings even if many of them were religious in some way, temples, shrines, etc. Don't know about the Kennedy School, should be worth looking into. In a way the idea is also sort of like the novel, Lost Horizon, Re: Shangri-La. Hmmm. What about RC taking over a Pacific atoll and declaring it a sovereign state? Then we create a unique university (maybe Immanuel Kant University) with all kinds of useful specializations like resort management, travel and tourism, etc, to keep the place running and make a profit (in addition to sky high tuition). IKU becomes a tourist destination, and brainy students flock to it for the weather and top notch beaches, plus girls, girls, girls. The girls go there to achieve stardom since it has a world class film / TV school and drama department. But everyone must study RC philosophy as it applies to their career specializations. And study RC generally. By then all of our writings from RC.org will be edited into book form for classroom use There should be a world class conference center, of course, to attract meetings of world leaders in a neutral country (with nice beaches and girls, girls, girls). Grad students would study these meetings and write weighty reports about them for publication in major countries with a stake in the proceedings. More might be added but as a general idea, whaddya think? B. ________________________________ From: Centroids <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 2:31 PM To: Billy Rojas Cc: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Subject: scholarocracy Re: [RC] Forms of Government / explanation Sounds a bit like Confucianism. That reminds me: wasn’t that sort of the point of the Kennedy School of Government? Did that actually work? E Sent from my iPhone On Sep 12, 2018, at 11:33, Billy Rojas <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Suppose it was in the interest of a nation (or several nations) to create a special university for elites. Maybe to ensure a supply of talent for a regime or a consortium of regimes. This would become a 'state, call it Braintrustland. To rule this nation the scholars who run the university constitute the government. Hence scholarocracy, or scholocracy. -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. 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