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. |
도서 본문에서
19 페이지
... forces operat- ing in the world . In the field of medicine , the inherent conflict between medical research purposes and patients ' interests is played out daily , far more so than most would care to recognize . Research is the driving ...
... forces operat- ing in the world . In the field of medicine , the inherent conflict between medical research purposes and patients ' interests is played out daily , far more so than most would care to recognize . Research is the driving ...
20 페이지
... forces are at play that cannot be held back , that will find their way regardless of obstacles placed in their path . It is time to examine why knowledge has the irresistible power to move the world . For illustrative purposes , let us ...
... forces are at play that cannot be held back , that will find their way regardless of obstacles placed in their path . It is time to examine why knowledge has the irresistible power to move the world . For illustrative purposes , let us ...
27 페이지
... force that it is . In repression , the unacceptable or potentially overwhelming emo- tions are excluded from the field of conscious awareness . It is not a delib- erate and conscious effort of rejection , but rather an involuntary ...
... force that it is . In repression , the unacceptable or potentially overwhelming emo- tions are excluded from the field of conscious awareness . It is not a delib- erate and conscious effort of rejection , but rather an involuntary ...
30 페이지
... force behind this search is too strong to stop ; those with the will and the resources and the power will go full steam ahead . Details will be covered in a later chapter . Section 3 : The " Hunger " to Know Existential anger and the ...
... force behind this search is too strong to stop ; those with the will and the resources and the power will go full steam ahead . Details will be covered in a later chapter . Section 3 : The " Hunger " to Know Existential anger and the ...
32 페이지
... forces over which they had no control . Natural disasters such as floods , droughts , hur- ricanes , earthquakes , volcanic eruptions , tornadoes , fires , and lightening storms as well as fatal illnesses , hideous birth defects ...
... forces over which they had no control . Natural disasters such as floods , droughts , hur- ricanes , earthquakes , volcanic eruptions , tornadoes , fires , and lightening storms as well as fatal illnesses , hideous birth defects ...
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