|
|
|
|
Notes on Introduction to the Humanities -- Hum A211 William Jamison - Instructor Lecture 3 I started today's lecture with a clip from YouTube to test the sound levels and projector (which took several ties to get working for some reason!) If you are interested in the clip it is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiFq_nk8pE0 but please do notice that some of the language contemporary comedians use may not be appropriate for everyone, Eddie Izzard included. The reason I picked this video clip was because of the reference to Stonehenge. We are discussing the art from the dawn of civilization. I used Google Earth starting from my office at UAA to visit Kenya where current thinking suggests early hominids began. We didn't watch this video but could have: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiiiirnspe0 I also discussed while zooming around the Sahara that we may eventually find evidence of a great population of human beings living an agrarian life there and perhaps being responsible for the desertification of the land due to overuse of the resources. I mention Jared Diamond frequently in discussing this. Again using Google Earth I zoomed in on the Pyramids. (While we could discuss using a tool like Google Earth to look at satellite pictures of the places to be discussed in class lectures, I hope to just use it occasionally to suggest ways it can be used. But seem my thoughts on using modern technology in class here. Please feel free to make suggestions.) Patterns Today we apply Complex Systems Theory to our studies. In this regard, we look for patterns. We also consider that the patterns people use to express how they view the world are repeated at many levels. So for example, small communities of technologially primitive people may believe in a multiplicity of powers each of which behaves in anthropomorphic ways. In other words, they project patterns of their own social environment on the larger environment as a whole. Examples of this might include the powers hunter-gather societies might view animals. More complex societies that begin to have specialists and become more dependent on agriculture begin to view other powers in the environment as anthropomorphic. Weather Gods seem good examples of this. I discuss how shamans or priests wear masks to take on the persona (Greek for mask) of the various Gods. An intriguing thesis is that I brought up next was the logical step of viewing some Gods as more powerful than others and eventually that there is only we true God. Akhenaton seems to be the first to do this. I mention the book Moses the Egyptian: The Memory of Egypt in Western Monotheism by Jan Assmann. At this point I argue that logic is fundamental to all human thinking and that logic can be used to establish certain laws of thought, and from these we can prove that in all complex symbolic systems there must be highest and lowest values. I use the Ontological Argument as one example of how this works. I then argue that we could view societies as progressively better and better depending on the growth of knowledge, tools, and other such things. This includes the progress made when people come to understand better the relationship society has to the environment and the powers in the universe. I also use music to contrast technologically primitive societies with civilized societies. I play a selection from "Shaman's Breath" (selection #5 Drumming Circle) which suggests wild orgiastic abandon with music from Ancient Greek Music which is slow, methodical and disciplined. “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice, there is.” http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Yogi_Berra Take http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/elegant/program_t.html to Brian Greene intro to string theory – conclude that this may certainly be how science – at least physics works – but it is also how theory works. We don’t want our theories to make a mess of things, but to improve our understanding. Theories are tools and the tools should work better.
Quine’s 6 virtues of hypotheses -- this is mercilessly adapted from
Conservatism: Don’t deviate from your established evidence or beliefs unnecessarily. you have to work with. Extrapolate carefully. for the evidence you are working with. Interpolate carefully.
Generality: Don’t make hypotheses so specific that they only cover the evidence at hand. Avoid “ad hoc” hypotheses.
Testability is more a matter of how the hypothesis is treated by the person who holds the hypothesis. · Is the person willing to consider contrary evidence, or is potentially contrary evidence always explained away? · Article of Faith, rather than hypothesis. Testability · Religion: Problem of Evil · Santa Claus brings us presents. · Horoscopes: “You can make progress if you deal with the right individuals.” “Hidden assets can be doubled if you play your cards right.” · Psychics: If it didn’t happen, it’s because other factors intervened. Testability: Don’t be dogmatic. Take contrary evidence seriously. Precision · Horoscopes: · “Love can be yours if you get out today.” · “Observe and you will learn.” · “Pleasure trips will promote romance.” Precision: Don’t be excessively vague. A good hypothesis is one that does well in light of the six virtues of hypotheses. Monty Python Dead Parrot Sketch works best here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5775099474392087542 Notice my page concerning the use of such materials in class.
|
|
This page is maintained by William S. Jamison. It was last updated January 12, 2008. All links on these pages are either to open source or public domain materials or they are marked with the appropriate copyright information. I frequently check the links I have made to other web sites but each source is responsible for their own content. |