Wednesday, October 13, 2004

Botox, BoSox and Indigenous Blocks in the Bush Leagues: Predictions

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  1. ‘[C]hange/continuation”in whatever European-based formâ’cannot substitute for truly revolutionary thinking, acts.’ My old man used to say ‘The greatest cultural achievment of the Portuguese was to perfect navigation; only to sail about and destroy civilizations superior to their own.’ (He meant no slight to living Portuguese people.) Harsh? Yes. But here we see the problem. There’s a Western proclivity to use potentially beneficial or delightful knowledge for ill. (The classic example is Chinese fireworks v European gunpowder.) There is nothing inherently evil about navigation. There is nothing inherently evil about science. Hence, no need to discard either. We ought, obviously, to look to using such powers for good. Genetic research can lead to medicinal benefits. It can also lead to chemical weapons that target specific genomes. What to choose? Can we choose one and not the other? Therein lies the struggle. The world has lost much knowledge. Not only that of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, but in Arabia, Asia, Australia and almost all of Africa. Old European tribal wisdoms were burned along with their practitioners by devotees of the ‘Malleus Malificarum’. Last year, ancient and priceless documents contained in the Baghdad National Library were lost to flames. Every culture has suffered its own library of Alexandria. It is our collective loss, our common shame. Within every culture we find great contributions, using them for good is up to us; it’s our common humanity. By all means, one should point out the dangerous shortcomings of the European cultural inheritance. But I see no reason to discount or reject it wholesale. Centuries ago, Arabic scholars studied Greek philosophy with ardour.  They rejected ignorance. And, as Trotsky remarked, ‘ignorance is not a weapon of the revolution’.

    Posted by Theo Papathanasis from  on  10/13  at  02:06 PM

  2. Thanks for responding, Theo. It’s a no-brainer, however, to cite the fact that “science has done some good and can do some good in the future...that it’s the particular scientist that does harmful things.” (Those are not Theo’s words, readers, but my summary, by the way.) For an intelligent take on whether or not the “progress” achieved thus far is an acceptable tradeoff for what we’ve destroyed and continue to lose at a disgusting rate, I invite Theo and all to read Jensen’s and Draffan’s WELCOME TO THE MACHINE. The fact is that Science and Technology are --in our lifetimes, at the very least, it can be said-- guided by a mindset that guarantees additional abominations, causing irreparable damage...leading toward ecocide. We must get off of this general, academic take on the neutral moral/political nature of Science and Tech...and get down with the discussion that’s NOT taking place about how we can STOP (as much as possible) from continuing along our ecocidal road...believing that the most serious problems caused by Technology can be solved by Technology. To give two examples only, this “discussion” will require FORCING something onto the Public School System in the U.S. AND FORCING a turnaround regarding all kinds of support for everything from leaf blowers to SUVs. The BELIEF/SUPPORT of Science that rules (and is ruining us) is addressed in the WTTM work cited above and is a different animal than the Pure Science that’s usually invoked when “progressives” talk about solutions...in an academic vein.  Again, we are avoiding the confrontation that’s going to be necessary to change our momentum, the momentum that’s behind things like the banning of bicycles in Shanghai.

    Posted by Richard Oxman from  on  10/13  at  03:08 PM

  3. Richard, one of the things I love about your work is how damn literary it is. And poetic. And just plain brilliant. Thank you. You really should write a bunch of books.
    Derrick

    Posted by derrick Jensen from  on  10/14  at  01:45 AM
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