Another excellent update to your excellent book! Upon reading it the following thought(s) occurred to me.
It struck me that nowhere do you introduce the fact of “curiosity.” The fact that with the emerging “Enlightenment,” and the freedom such enlightened awareness produced, Man’s innate curiosity was released from prior constraints on a scale never before seen! Except, perhaps, during brief “flights” of it as its “bonds” were occasionally loosened during Man’s past history – most notably in periods during Greece and Rome's emergence.
I have always been struck by “curiosity” and those who seem, well, passionately curios! In that regard, I have come to believe this innate “curiosity” takes two distinct forms – the latter of which often manifests in the most recent and profound achievements of science.
Some of us seem to remain curious about all manner of subjects. I consider myself one such person. As I review my life, I have become aware that I remain endlessly curious about just about any subject, save the mundane. However, when I ask myself of what was/am I passionate, that immediately produces a different context. Hence my claim of curiosity taking two “forms.”
For example, my abiding curiosity becomes consumingly-passionate when thinking about ”Thinking!” I am endlessly passionate about creating abstractions from concretes and vice versa. The emotional “thrill” when discovering insights in either case excites my soul! An example would be when it first occurred to me that achievement of a “positive” and the avoidance of a “negative” produced entirely opposing psychologies, triggering a litany of opposing values and corresponding emotions! I still thrill at discovering yet another example of this “psychology” on display! In summary, I have an inextinguishable passion for “truth(s)” related to the processes of the mind!
Somewhat “lesser” passion is associated with Rand, her body of work, and the specific philosophical ideas she has brought to Metaphysics, Epistemology, Morality, and Politics. For whatever reason (lack of passion?) I have tended to ignore her ideas with respect to Esthetics.
Returning to my “less-passionate” curiosity, it has led to values/behaviors representing “who” I became. Aircraft mechanic, pilot, musician, Numismatist, IBM career (working in the Service, Engineering, and Financial sectors). Building my dream home and one for my wife, acting as both “general” contractor and skilled contractors(s). Owning my own real estate business. Maintaining an endless interest in History, Finance, Nuclear Physics, etc.
This brings me to your subject of “science,” its pursuit, and its current “status.”
I have cited the details above in order to suggest to you that perhaps your topic of science would be further served by citing the relationship of freedom to science. “Freedom” in all its contexts and science in all of its! It’s one thing to be employed as a Geologist by an energy company, locating likely strata for drilling, entirely a different thing for said employee to be employed and given the latitude to passionately pursue his dream of nuclear fusion!
Perhaps a subject for discussion at our next gathering?
Thank you again for the continuing updates to your thinking!
Dave, Thanks for your always thought-provoking thoughts. I'll have to digest how I can further clarify the relationship between freedom and science without making the chapter too long. One of the major positive feedback items I've received on the book in general is its brevity and I don't want to jeopardize that by adding too much. Cheers!
I like the fact that you are regularly updating your book. This tells the reader you are expanding your knowledge and sharpening context.
Government funding = outcomes for sale.
Anders:
Another excellent update to your excellent book! Upon reading it the following thought(s) occurred to me.
It struck me that nowhere do you introduce the fact of “curiosity.” The fact that with the emerging “Enlightenment,” and the freedom such enlightened awareness produced, Man’s innate curiosity was released from prior constraints on a scale never before seen! Except, perhaps, during brief “flights” of it as its “bonds” were occasionally loosened during Man’s past history – most notably in periods during Greece and Rome's emergence.
I have always been struck by “curiosity” and those who seem, well, passionately curios! In that regard, I have come to believe this innate “curiosity” takes two distinct forms – the latter of which often manifests in the most recent and profound achievements of science.
Some of us seem to remain curious about all manner of subjects. I consider myself one such person. As I review my life, I have become aware that I remain endlessly curious about just about any subject, save the mundane. However, when I ask myself of what was/am I passionate, that immediately produces a different context. Hence my claim of curiosity taking two “forms.”
For example, my abiding curiosity becomes consumingly-passionate when thinking about ”Thinking!” I am endlessly passionate about creating abstractions from concretes and vice versa. The emotional “thrill” when discovering insights in either case excites my soul! An example would be when it first occurred to me that achievement of a “positive” and the avoidance of a “negative” produced entirely opposing psychologies, triggering a litany of opposing values and corresponding emotions! I still thrill at discovering yet another example of this “psychology” on display! In summary, I have an inextinguishable passion for “truth(s)” related to the processes of the mind!
Somewhat “lesser” passion is associated with Rand, her body of work, and the specific philosophical ideas she has brought to Metaphysics, Epistemology, Morality, and Politics. For whatever reason (lack of passion?) I have tended to ignore her ideas with respect to Esthetics.
Returning to my “less-passionate” curiosity, it has led to values/behaviors representing “who” I became. Aircraft mechanic, pilot, musician, Numismatist, IBM career (working in the Service, Engineering, and Financial sectors). Building my dream home and one for my wife, acting as both “general” contractor and skilled contractors(s). Owning my own real estate business. Maintaining an endless interest in History, Finance, Nuclear Physics, etc.
This brings me to your subject of “science,” its pursuit, and its current “status.”
I have cited the details above in order to suggest to you that perhaps your topic of science would be further served by citing the relationship of freedom to science. “Freedom” in all its contexts and science in all of its! It’s one thing to be employed as a Geologist by an energy company, locating likely strata for drilling, entirely a different thing for said employee to be employed and given the latitude to passionately pursue his dream of nuclear fusion!
Perhaps a subject for discussion at our next gathering?
Thank you again for the continuing updates to your thinking!
Dave
Dave, Thanks for your always thought-provoking thoughts. I'll have to digest how I can further clarify the relationship between freedom and science without making the chapter too long. One of the major positive feedback items I've received on the book in general is its brevity and I don't want to jeopardize that by adding too much. Cheers!