The Knowledge Drive: Confronting Mythological BeliefsDog Ear Publishing, 2008 - 252 sivua The Knowledge Drive is an optimistic book that demonstrates how new, more accurate information conveys survival value and inevitably supplants our dysfunctional mythological beliefs. Before there was time for the accumulation of knowledge, early man created legends and religious myths to "understand" the world and ease the paralyzing awareness of his own mortality and the fear of natural forces beyond his control. We are increasingly aware of how these magical beliefs can lead to divisive religious practices, violence, and mans' continuing inhumanity to fellow man. Change is clearly needed. Now, rapid advances in many fields are giving us the techniques to modify our evolution and curtail our virulence. We can establish a more universal, equitable morality based on more accurate intelligence about our origins and place in the universe. Nevertheless, it is up to us as a species to choose our own future directions. We are thus in charge of our own destiny, a threatening thought to many. No prayers or appeals to magical forces will help. Dr. Bardon analyzes how our quest for knowledge is a basic human drive similar to the sex and nourishment drives. It arises from our survival instinct and is not based on moral or altruistic factors. Along with establishing knowledge as a source of power, the author discusses the Knowledge Drive from many other perspectives: its various motivations; the fact that it can be used for many purposes, even destructive ones; how it learns from adversity; how it often exacerbates inequality; and how it does not solve social problems unless given the necessary direction. Dr. Bardon looks at the multiple forces aligned against our efforts to obtain more reliable information. He shows how the Knowledge Drive not only triumphs over but also learns from these negative elements. Warnings about the fragility of our search for knowledge are misguided-it is rather the people mired in mythology who are vulnerable and need our compassion. |
Kirjan sisältä
Tulokset 1 - 5 kokonaismäärästä 54
Sivu 1
... knowledge . Once born , knowledge gradually increased until its growth reached geometric proportions . Fueled by the inexorable human drive to penetrate all the mys- teries of the universe , this accelerating growth in knowledge now ...
... knowledge . Once born , knowledge gradually increased until its growth reached geometric proportions . Fueled by the inexorable human drive to penetrate all the mys- teries of the universe , this accelerating growth in knowledge now ...
Sivu 2
... growth , and cheerful moods as it circled the sky ; the Earth was the obvious center around which the celestial bodies revolved ; the intriguing distant stars made their nightly journey ; the Earth was flat ; male and female were ...
... growth , and cheerful moods as it circled the sky ; the Earth was the obvious center around which the celestial bodies revolved ; the intriguing distant stars made their nightly journey ; the Earth was flat ; male and female were ...
Sivu 4
... growth of human knowledge is reaching new heights of excitement and slowly supplanting mythological beliefs . We have the decade of the brain , the mapping of the human genome , and the beginning control of the cell's aging . Molecular ...
... growth of human knowledge is reaching new heights of excitement and slowly supplanting mythological beliefs . We have the decade of the brain , the mapping of the human genome , and the beginning control of the cell's aging . Molecular ...
Sivu 15
... knowledge will garner a larger share of resources and control , whether as individuals or as cultures . To think , as many seem to , that the growth of knowledge will automatically reverse this situation and promote equality is to be a ...
... knowledge will garner a larger share of resources and control , whether as individuals or as cultures . To think , as many seem to , that the growth of knowledge will automatically reverse this situation and promote equality is to be a ...
Sivu 21
... growth of the most successful variations . In The Demon - Haunted World ( Random House , 1995 ) , Carl Sagan explores how scientific thinking has been with us since the beginning of human life . He uses the development of tracking skills ...
... growth of the most successful variations . In The Demon - Haunted World ( Random House , 1995 ) , Carl Sagan explores how scientific thinking has been with us since the beginning of human life . He uses the development of tracking skills ...
Sisältö
1 | |
35 | |
Chapter 4 | 55 |
Chapter 5 | 92 |
Chapter 8 | 106 |
Chapter 9 | 120 |
Chapter 10 | 133 |
Chapter 11 | 150 |
Chapter 12 | 161 |
Chapter 13 | 169 |
Chapter 16 | 221 |
Index | 237 |
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ability areas basic become behavior body Boorstin Carl Sagan cells ceremonies clone humans concept continue created creative culture death Demon-Haunted World desire discover discovery disease divine drugs Earth edge embryos End of Faith environment evil evolution evolutionary fear forces functioning future genes genetic God Delusion gods groups growth of knowledge Human Cloning Ibid illness immortality increasing increasingly India individuals investigation knowl Knowledge Drive knowledge growth Listening to Prozac live magical magical thinking medicine modern modify moral motivated mysteries mythological beliefs mythology myths nations Natural Selection nature neurotransmitters Newsweek paranormal patients planet population potential prayer problems progress psychiatric religion religious Richard Dawkins ritual sacrifice Sagan Sam Harris schizophrenia scientific scientists search for knowledge Section seek sexual social society space spirits Sun Chief survival techniques Thalidomide tion understanding University Press York