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UNCONSTRAINED
Thomas Sowell in his book "A Conflict Of Visions" talks
about two views of humanity.
Unconstrained: Constrained:
Human capability is Human capability is
fundamentally unlimited. fundamentally limited.
No problems are beyond Some problems we just
the reach of a dedicated, have to learn to live
benevolent intellect. with, because no one is smart
All the parameters of humanity enough to think of everything,
can ultimately be modified to and attempts at solutions lead
achieve an end to suffering. to unexpected consequences.
You can't change human nature.
Loosely, these coincide with:
LIBERALS and CONSERVATIVES.
But only loosely. Personally, I think it's really
interesting that conservatives are strictly
speaking conservative on economic and social
issues whereas liberals are quite conservative on
environmental issues.
The world ecology is a very The national economy is a very
complex structure. As yet complex structure. As yet
we do not fully understand it we do not fully understand it
(perhaps we never will). (perhaps we never will).
Since we can not fully predict Since we can not fully predict
the results of the changes we the results of the changes we
make, we should try to avoid make, we should try to avoid
making changes, particularly making changes, particularly
major ones, considering how major ones, considering how
many lives are at stake. many lives are at stake.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau John Locke
"Du Contrat Social" "An Essay concerning Human Understanding"
"Man was born free, "All men are liable to error;
and everywhere he and most men are, in many
is in chains." points, by passion or
interest, under temptation
("L'homme est ne' libre, to it."
et partout il est dans (1690)
les fers".)
(1712-1778)
A friend of mine pointed out to me that
Sowell's schtick bears much resemblance Sometime I'll try to
to this old Locke-Rousseau business... look up Rousseau and
Locke in Sowell's
(I felt pretty index. Maybe I just
stupid I hadn't missed it?
noticed this.)
Reading through Wells "Outline" I realize
something else I should've noticed long
ago:
I've tended to think of Socrates as being
a rational christ, a martyr to reason as
opposed to faith. ONERELIGION
But from another point of view,
Socrates genuinely was a man capable
of "corrupting" youth. If you preach
skepticism, if you demand to know the
reason for everything, than you run
the risk of breaking some very sensible
rules just because you aren't yet able
to understand the reasons for them.
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