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notices and features - Date published:
5:30 pm, September 19th, 2016 - 68 comments
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The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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Colin Craig gives us the reason there were monasteries in the old days where we could shuffle weird fellows like him.
Yeah, and look what happened when we did:
The Crusades
The Inquisition
The general denigration of women
People getting vilified for finding out scientific truth that was contrary to what the church taught
And the list goes on.
Much better to keep these people in public view so that we can dis-empower them.
Monastics also brought Europe back out of the Dark Ages.
Don’t be so bloody selective and narrow in your perspective. Without their salvaging and protection of the knowledge of antiquity, your precious western enlightenment would have been delayed for maybe 500 years, and you’d be wondering today if the universe really orbited the Earth, let alone all the rest of the liberal lefty dogma.
[citation needed]
Did Christianity cause the Dark Ages?
It seems that we probably have more to thank the Muslims for rise for maintaining the early base.
But then, Would humans be more advanced if the Dark Ages never happened?
It seems that technologically we were advancing across the world whether there was monastics or not.
http://chalcedon.edu/research/articles/it-takes-a-monk-to-save-a-civilization/
http://www.metanexus.net/essay/medieval-monasticism-preserver-western-civilization
And a counter view
http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2003/how-the-humanists-not-the-irish-saved-western-civilization/
As our illustrious PM would say, ‘You give me an opinion and I’ll find another academic.”
Jeeez that’s stupid Draco: China and India are the home of the world’s oldest monastic traditions outside of, and maybe even including, the Middle East.
Your ideals of lefty technological liberalism aren’t even going to last out the rest of this century. My bet is that most major religions will, however.
Ah, but was it due to the monastics or not?
Considering that the monastics are only a small minority I’d be highly surprised if they were the ones driving the innovation. Contrary to what the capitalists believe innovation doesn’t come from the minority but the majority talking and working with each other.
https://www.britannica.com/technology/history-of-technology/From-the-Middle-Ages-to-1750
Seems to me that it was more the actions of the general populace rather than the churches. This isn’t to say that the churches didn’t have an effect upon it.
Your real problem is that you’re making assertions and not backing them up with research. You assume that only the churches knew how to read and write whereas history indicates that quite a few others did as well.
Not here to convince you; the Archdruid understands these issues far better than you do.
The philosophy you follow won’t last out the century.
Sorry Draco, but this time I don’t think a citation is needed. So much of antiquity’s literature and therefore knowledge was destroyed by over-zealous early Christians.. and it was the literate few in the monasteries who for some time were alone in protecting and copying the remainder of antiquity’s civilised records which eventually lead to the Renaissance.
(I normally agree with you! And I now see that I came in rather late. The Muslim civilisation certainly contributed also. Edit)
An interesting topic guys.
I’d argue that there were definitely several major factors all at work:
1. The Christian monastics can definitely be credited with preserving at least some of the classical heritage, and providing sanctuaries in which some level of literacy and scholastic traditions survived. While it’s probably true to say that much of this traditional knowledge had stagnated, it’s also true that without it any new influences would have fallen on much more barren soil.
2. The Crusades absolutely exposed Europe far more intimately to influence of Islam. For at least the first 600 yrs after Mohammad there is no question that the Islamic civilisations progressed far more rapidly than anywhere else in the world. For instance the notion of citizenship and equality before the law are all first clearly espoused within Islam, not Europe. These were imported ideas.
3. The Black Death essentially overturned the feudal economic model in Europe, liberating talent and opportunity in equal measure.
4. The development of mercantilism in Europe was accelerated by the invention of banking; capitalism at least in it’s infancy was a huge stimulus.
5. Other aspects such as a temperate climate, ready access to sea lanes, and a solid base of metals and coal also assisted.
And I’d imagine a real scholar could bang off a far longer list, but these are what come to the top of my mind.
I am quite staggered by the number of people today with large wads of capital financing a life of ease, no work, walking the dog, coffee, new range rovers, winter escapes and summer sleeps….
it kinda matches the number of people today with nothing whatsoever….
it is all up the boohai
Yes, the more a few have the less the majority have.
In the olden days I recall in our community most everyone played a role and contributed to its wellbeing. Today there is one huge number of people who actually do not play a role and do not contribute to its wellbeing. This huge number of people are, really, bludgers …
That is the reality of their daily existence
keep an eye out for them, they are quite easy to spot ….
and they aint the unemployed or poor
But what should people spend their day doing . Bearing in mind you only have one life, and it could end in 1 second.
You need to get a hobby old boy, spending your retirement worrying about what everyone else is doing.
Enjoy the time you have left.
heh, I aint that old, and I aint worrying about what everyone else is doing… I am though worrying about our society and its future…
I don’t think it is that rosy in the short to mid term and the above phenomenon I consider an indicator of our society’s directional movement …
no more no less
They’re not a huge number but they are bludgers.
“Yes, the more a few have the less the majority have.”
An excellent snippet of wisdom there Draco. Please, can I add it to my list of quotable quotes?
Go for it.
Presumably they are mostly retired, and are in their mid 60’s. And probably looking a lot more healthy and active than people who were in their mid 60’s a generation or two ago (1970’s and 1980’s) and who were once known as the blue rinse brigade – the women I guess.
Lots of retired farmers, professionals, business people and senior civil servants would be able to afford what you have set out, (and pretty much always have) except that travel is now a lot cheaper.
I would also note a lot of them are very active in their communities in clubs, charities and community activity. For instance people in this group were pretty much the driving force behind saving the Takapuna motor camp, which has become a really big issue on The Shore. In part standing up for “the local” within the big city.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/sep/19/world-without-work-utopia-hell-human-labour-obsolete
a taste of things to come…..best case scenario
I forgot I liked DNews, and have been going on a binge catching up. Here is a cool video explaining the Ozone Layer. Isn’t it great when science wins.
Next we’ll actually find the factor 100 skin lotions they bleated on about, are more harmful and cancer causing than the sun.
On average a New Zealander dies every day from skin cancer.
IF, as you suggest, skin lotions might be harmful, exactly which fatal conditions are they causing?
Most of the ingredients are toxic, or which toxicity is largely unknown. The problems they cause to individuals will depend on what is already going on with the individuals’ health.
Got any studies that link sunscreen with medical problems?
Evaluation of the health aspects of methyl paraben: a review of the published literature.
You can buy paraben free sunscreen
Yes you can, but it is only a minority of the product lines sold and not many people know why they should.
From the study linked, only a few people would need to.
So far as I’m aware, the first alarm bells about parabens were rung by cosmetics manufacturers, possibly as a marketing ploy.
As well as any toxicity issues, there’s the fact that sunscreens block the vitamin D production that happens due to UV exposure on the skin. It will take time for the problems with that to show up in populations but low vitamin D levels in the general population (as opposed to people who get no sun like geriatric patients) are increasingly thought to be a factor in the genesis of multiple diseases. There is a trade off going on, we don’t yet know what we swapped skin cancer for.
Another fuck up brought to us by the reductionist medical model used in public health.
Really?
No, not really…
Well, maybe sorta kinda…
I bet stress caused by worrying about phantom sunscreen-related vitamin d deficiency is a health hazard though.
Those links are research from 1995 and 2009. Most of the work I’ve seen done on Vit D has been more recent. Further, consider that there might be differences in studying say Australians, and Brits or Southlanders, and that there is questioning about the reference range for Vit D serum levels, and that is coming from medical people.
As with other public health fuck ups (eg the fat hypothesis), it took decades of medical people and research scientists (as well as non-medical activists) raising these issues before they got taken seriously enough to be looked at. Pulling a couple of references off the internet, esp one that is old, doesn’t really address an issue that is as complex as this. RCTs are great, but looking at them in isolation is the precise problem in the mindset that leads to the fuck ups.
” Isn’t it great when science wins.”
partially solving a global crisis caused by science, by using science, isn’t a “win.”
At best, it’s a tie. If you’re feeling generous.
The problem wasn’t caused by science but by commercialism.
Whatever Draco, whatever.
Last I looked, CFCs were designed and mass manufactured by chemists.
true and scientists do the research and write the reports that industry relies on for both manufacturing and PR.
Plus the cultural mindset that underpins Western science also supports capitalism. They’re like twins.
“the cultural mindset that underpins Western science”, eh.
So for example, when I asked for a lay summation of the scientific method at Realclimate, the best answer was “honesty and curiosity”.
I suppose that isn’t what you meant.
The “scientific method” isn’t the problem; the problem is science being hired and put to use as a tool for profit by the most powerful corporate and extractive forces driving our economy today.
Knowledge gets put to use by pretty much everyone. Exhibit a: the AK47.
I agree that the profit motive has inherent problems. Show me a motive that doesn’t.
Baby, meet bathwater.
I agree with you 100%. So it seems obvious why the general public is sometimes unimpressed with the large scale endeavour of science when sometimes it gives to the public good with one hand, and sometimes it takes away from the public good with the other. Eg. CFCs which started this discussion.
Nothing about public opinion “seems obvious” if you ask me: trying to think of a good metaphor has me thinking about the Pamplona bull run. It follows a predictable path and yet changes direction frequently. Don’t be standing in the way.
“the cultural mindset that underpins Western science”, eh.
So for example, when I asked for a lay summation of the scientific method at Realclimate, the best answer was “honesty and curiosity”.
I suppose that isn’t what you meant.
Of course it isn’t. The irony here is that if we look at the medical field it is full of dishonesty, by their own admission.
As for curiosity, instead of dropping a smart arse reactionary comment that basically takes us nowhere, you could actually engage with the idea in the spirit of where curiosity might take us. In the meantime I will assume that you don’t understand what I meant /shrug
OK: I think the notion of ascribing a single mindset to as diverse and wonderful a field as science is prejudicial, to say the least.
And like other forms of prejudice, it is also wrong, and useless.
Please be more specific. For example, how does the oft-repeated saw that as individuals, scientists are less motivated by material wealth than the rest of us fit into this mindset?
“OK: I think the notion of ascribing a single mindset to as diverse and wonderful a field as science is prejudicial, to say the least.”
Not sure what you mean there exactly. I’m not saying that science has a single mindset, is that what you meant? Or did you mean that I was saying that everyone in science has this particular mindset? (also not what I am saying). What I am saying is that there are particular world views that underpin Western science, both in its evolution and in its current practice. Those world views bring benefits and problems. I was pointing to the problems and comparing them to the problems with capitalism (because in this context I don’t think evil capitalism alone explains the mistakes that science makes).
“Please be more specific. For example, how does the oft-repeated saw that as individuals, scientists are less motivated by material wealth than the rest of us fit into this mindset?”
I’ve not heard that saw before, and I wouldn’t believe it. Scientists are a group of humans like everyone else. What would make them less motivated by material wealth than others? (if you want to compare them to merchant bankers you might have a point).
But even it it were true, it doesn’t inherently negate my contention that there is a worldview underpinning Western science that causes problems. It doesn’t have anything to do with that.
The saw follows the narrative that they are motivated more by curiosity than wealth.
Please would you name or provide an example that illustrates the worldview? Curiosity killed the cat?
Our dear leader has just appeared on Newshub coming out of the UN building with Helen Clark. He looked stupid standing there with both of his hands in his pockets, just like he did when walking with Malcolm Turnball a few weeks ago. Does he feel the need to keep his hands in his pockets because:
a. He has a Michael Jackson complex and wants to keep his hands clean at all times.
b. He needs to keep his hands tethered in case of passing temping pony tails.
c. He is financially insecure and wants to assure himself that he has money in his pocket.
d. He is playing with himself.
I can’t recall any other male in the public eye who has this weird habit.
confucius say’
”man with hands in pocket feel cocky all day”
Thanks BW, is that the secret of his “success”?
Also say:
man with hand in other man’s pocket, not feeling himself.
Big green monster and JKDS is strong in you Janice
ahh – the old. “dont you dare say anything that isnt 100% about the PM” shut down routine
get a new one
Confucius say, man with deep pockets cannot find money to give to needy.
Dirty Politics is alive and well and Cameron Slater is in the thick of it. Wonder what is fee is these days?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201816735/dirty-politics-hits-mayoral-candidates-in-nelson-and-marlboroug
I’d ask another question. Who is paying his fee, and that of his mate Simon Lusk, of dirty politics infamy, as well? Why is Slater interested? Because his mate Lusk is. Why is Lusk so interested that he comes to Marlborough and holds a seminar to aid far right wing candidates. Who is living outside of Marlborough yet wants to use dirty politics tactics to attack a more middle of the road candidate who has the front running? Why is this just come out at the time when council voting papers are mailed out?
I’d say follow the money. Who is interested in having an ineffective and right wing mayor in a province in which water, fish, mussels, timber, cows and grapes are raw products waiting to be profited from?
This in a province with low wages and eighty per cent of the grape industry owned outside of the area and the country; where Talley, that family which loathes unions, owns considerable industry; where waterways, the sea-bed and the land are being degraded by primary industries like fishing, forestry and grapes, and water is described as the new white gold.
Hmmm………..
OK. So the key word is Talley. Well, they’re rolling in the moneyed stuff so I guess these two fine upstanding NZers, Lusk and Slater are merely doing necessary research into the effects the Talley industries (and others?) are having on the local community and how best to manipulate that community in the interests of the market economy – but in particular their own…
No, I can’t say it is Talley. But it’s bound to be money, profit, exploitation, behind it. Talleys are one firm among many who profit from what is akin to a third world economy, where profits from primary industry are extracted out of the province as the West does to Third World economies, slave labour and all.
Yes. I did add “and others”. But if you follow the money then Talleys will be in there somewhere even if they aren’t involved in the latest DP scheming.
Just as an aside I see Nicky Hager is giving evidence at the Colin Craig defamation court case this week. It could be very interesting to hear what he has to contribute.
Didn’t a Talley get a knighthood from John Key who is best mates with Slater?
Yes. but to be fair… I think Key has distanced himself from Slater. Although if things start looking rocky for National next year I’m sure Key would be happy to renew his acquaintance.
Anne, you’ll savour this news today! News of your good friends, the Talleys.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/314061/affco-fined-$15k-and-accused-of-'union-busting‘
Darien Fenton will savour it even more. Hope she and her colleagues are celebrating. 🙂
No way PT would have anything to do with whale blubber, js I used to work for him, PT may be many things but I can tell you he is not the type to have dealings with cameron sack of shit slater
I saw a pic on his twitter account of him, in like a black leather waistcoat with” Dirty politics original” patch sewn on it, like he was some hard guy gang member. Trying damn hard to look as mean as he can posing.
knob.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11712679
Another day another national party failure that the taxpayer has to tidy up
“It is not fair to describe queries about the Convention Centre as being “palmed off” to DPMC, as ministers and Crown agents have legal, contractual and commercial constraints, which opposition MPs do not have,” he said.
and are able to hide behind that delightfully useful phrase “commercial sensitivity”
it’s a honey pot, innit?