Applied Wisdom

SCIENCE and QUALITY OF LIFE

Leon Kass is a professor of ethics at University of Chicago and a former head of the President’s commission on “Bio-ethics”.  He is concerned that the biotechnological revolution offers seductive promises of a perfect “other than human” future in which we shall be as gods, ageless and blissful.

The following is an excerpt from an article he wrote about the limitations of science to contribute to a better quality of life.  It is a brief introduction.

 The new scientism neglects the ethical and spiritual aspects of the human animal.  For we alone among the animals go in for ethicizing, in concerning ourselves with how to live. We alone among the animals ask not only “What can I know”, but also “what I ought to do?”  What may I hope?” These are the great longings of the human soul which science does not satisfy.

 Science by design is notoriously morally neutral.  It is silent regarding the distinction between better and worse, right and wrong and the noble and the base. 

…..It can offer no standards to guide the use of the awesome powers it places in human hands. Though it seeks universal knowledge, it has no answer to moral relativism.  IT know not what charity is, what charity requires, or even whether and why it is good. “

Wisdom Anecdote

I read the following two anecdotes in Huston Smith's classic work - The World's Religions.

He wrote them when discussing Confuius' attempt to instil stories and legends of moral quality witin the fabric of society.

#1 - The King asked: "What would you say of the person who is liked by all his fellow townsmen?"..... "That is not sufficient", was the reply. "What is better is that the good among his fellow townsmen like him, and the bad hate him".

#2 - The Master said: "The well bred are dignified but not pompous, the ill bred are pompous bt not dignified.

 

 

WHAT DEFINES US ?

 

It is the tough decisions that define who we are.

 Who we are is the example we set for our children and those that look up to us.

 The following is an excellent Jerusalem Post article about such a dilemma written by one of the editors.

 http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=240974

What was the last tough decision you made?

 

Dr Mann is a Clinical Psychologist and Business & Personal Coach, who helps young adult males,  parents,  and adults in mid-life achieve positive goals.  www.morrismann.com

"Be A Man"

Being a man means you have to earn respect from others by proving yourself. 

The standards descriptions of male ego to reach such achievments are men being competitive, assertive, confident and even cocky.

But the question is whether the changing culture to encourage men to be more "in touch with their emotions" will influence men's choices and priorities. Will men care less about honor and respect earned though accomplishment and long hours of dedication?  

In the past men wereconsidered to be  out of touch with emotions. In today's world they are encouraged to be in touch and that often means paying attention to personal needs.  But does that undermine male willingness to take risks and compete with others for the benefit of greater society?

To do the dirty dangerous and challenging jobs men  need to put feelings aside and focus on the task at hand.  Personal emotional fulfillment takes a back seat to the man’s drive for public honor and respect.

 Will a talented man not subject himself to the grueling task of ruling a country, dedicating long hours in a lab to discover new medications, or travel for long periods overseas in the service of his country?

 

Women and Men - Beauty and Status

Wisdom of the ages

When walking into a crowd of strangers a woman is initially judged by her beauty.  When walking into a crowd a man is judged by his status - power and money. 

  A woman's status is ascribed (inherent) and a man's status is acquired.

Which carries more pressure and tension?

 

 

 

Greatness measured in principle not in possessions

I came across the following mention of Gandhi in Huston Smith's 

50th edition of "The World's  Religions".

It is inspiring to imagine want you can do when you dedicate your life to a vrtuous cause.

 " Gandhi's name became, in the midlle of the twnetieth century, the counterpoise to those of Stalin and Hitler.  The achievement for which the world credited this man, was:

• the British withdrawal from India in peace
• he renamed India's untouchables  harijan, "God's people, and raised them to human stature.

And in doing so he provided the nonviolent strategy as well as the insppiration for Martin Luther King Jr's civil rights movement in the USA."

Gandi was a man who weighed less than a hundred pounds and whose worldy possessions when he died were worth less than two dollars.

Some words of wisdom from a great man:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

"An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind."

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."