tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post7125682301083110032..comments2024-03-22T06:22:08.010+00:00Comments on Stephen Law: Paper for conference this weekend in Graz, AustriaStephen Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02167317543994731177noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-75281855587187669332013-11-28T10:29:27.582+00:002013-11-28T10:29:27.582+00:00You know Dr Law...if you read your Aristotle caref...You know Dr Law...if you read your Aristotle carefully it is clear that the "external authority" that Aristotle refers to is "Group Selection".<br /><br />In Aristotle's model it is the "polis" that generates the duties, obligations, etc. to ones kin and it's extension to ones community. He regards the polis as a living entity in a manner that amounts to Group Selection, because he emphasises that Humans are social creatures (this is what comes most naturally to humans) and that the polis is the most natural expression of these social relations.<br /><br />What is particularly interesting is that your emphasis on the individual runs counter to Group Selection...in fact it is more a Neo-Darwinian approach (that is more or less discredited now).<br /><br />And though you would not consider yourself as working under an Authority figure...you are...<br /><br />Because, the model of logic and critical thinking that you use is a Hellenism model of how to think and reason...it is not new (the Greeks invented it) and it is definitely the cultural tradition you follow though you may not be aware of it.Philip Randhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09143527524267821692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-67192937884703203202013-10-27T01:22:38.608+00:002013-10-27T01:22:38.608+00:00"the habit of thinking carefully and critical..."the habit of thinking carefully and critically about our own beliefs and attitudes."<br /><br />I think you're arguing the wrong question. Our children will one day, beyond any shadow of a doubt, be making the decisions that will determine humanity's course. They will HAVE to think on their own. The question, I believe, is how to make the transition from, "Don't walk out into the road because I said so;" to, "that's a fascinating question, what did you come up with?" And yes, culture plays a huge part in that decision process, they have to get along in their cultural environment. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-27790137065748017972013-10-18T06:53:27.816+00:002013-10-18T06:53:27.816+00:00So how does a "Liberal" education "...So how does a "Liberal" education "train" a child how to view the "Law" (no pun intended Dr Law, heee,heee,heee)?<br /><br />As an Authority Figure?<br /><br />Or as a Friendly Figure?Philip Randhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09143527524267821692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-13932080234162722632013-10-15T16:35:11.772+00:002013-10-15T16:35:11.772+00:00Second Para: “A Liberal approach lies at the oppos...Second Para: “A Liberal approach lies at the opposite end of the scale…” doesn’t make sense. I think a few words have dropped out.<br /><br />I don't know if it's part of the scope of this particular piece but don't Sacks and MacIntyre quietly smuggle in a few extra things with their "need for culture". Granted <i>some</i> culture is needed it still doesn't follow that <i>one</i>, entire, culture is needed, less that any <i>particular</i> culture is needed and still less that the particular culture is determined by "identity".<br /><br />If, as MacIntyre says, reason entails tradition then when we teach reason we teach tradition and satisfy his requirement with no need to even consider "cultural identity".Tony Lloydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03740295390214409286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1905686568472747305.post-7291447780432793392013-10-15T10:23:25.760+00:002013-10-15T10:23:25.760+00:00Two further suggested references to refute doctrin...Two further suggested references to refute doctrines for abusing children:<br />1. "Your children are not your children" from Gibran's "On Children".<br />2. The Golden Rule i.e. treat children how you yourself want to be treated.Jim Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09993698182265743168noreply@blogger.com