The Knowledge Drive: Confronting Mythological BeliefsDog Ear Publishing, 2008 - 252페이지 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. |
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29개의 결과 중 1 - 5개
2 페이지
... illnesses , head - hunting enemies , and ferocious beasts . And at some point , humans became aware of the ultimate threat— their own mortality . Oblivion stared them in the face ! How could these newly aware beings deal with this ...
... illnesses , head - hunting enemies , and ferocious beasts . And at some point , humans became aware of the ultimate threat— their own mortality . Oblivion stared them in the face ! How could these newly aware beings deal with this ...
3 페이지
... illness with their often- accompanying grandiosity and omnipotence . Some people found these early myths and creative fantasies an inspiration to new directions , a springboard to experiment and fact - finding . Early in human ...
... illness with their often- accompanying grandiosity and omnipotence . Some people found these early myths and creative fantasies an inspiration to new directions , a springboard to experiment and fact - finding . Early in human ...
8 페이지
... illnesses like depression and schizophrenia can account for this lack of sexual drive , we may be simply looking at individuals whose sexual drive is at the low end of the statistical curve . The sex drive of other individuals resides ...
... illnesses like depression and schizophrenia can account for this lack of sexual drive , we may be simply looking at individuals whose sexual drive is at the low end of the statistical curve . The sex drive of other individuals resides ...
11 페이지
... illnesses to the high percentage of deaths by anorexia nervosa . Obesity is common in cer- tain parts of the world with an estimated sixty percent of the U.S. popula- tion being heavier than optimal weight , a risk factor for increased ...
... illnesses to the high percentage of deaths by anorexia nervosa . Obesity is common in cer- tain parts of the world with an estimated sixty percent of the U.S. popula- tion being heavier than optimal weight , a risk factor for increased ...
17 페이지
... illness . Effective pub- lic health measures are instituted . The human life span has increased dra- matically from around 47 years in the United States at the turn of the century to the current average of 78 years . Those living to 100 ...
... illness . Effective pub- lic health measures are instituted . The human life span has increased dra- matically from around 47 years in the United States at the turn of the century to the current average of 78 years . Those living to 100 ...
목차
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