Summary Of Dr. Stephen Kucera Chapter 1 Chapter Summaries
Dr. Stephen Kucera - Chapter 1 Summary/Reaction
In the introduction the author discusses his feelings about the importance of scientific literacy for our civilization. Currently, a swift and far reaching biocide is in progress and there may be ramifications for our civilization if we do not begin to address these issues soon. I agree with the author because I feel that our society has become so insulated from the effects of nature on our lives that we have lost a great deal of respect for it.
Think about it. We live and work in our air conditioned buildings, buy our food at a grocery store, drive around in automobiles which emit carbon dioxide and pollutants. We are shielded from the whims of Nature and their potential effects on our ability to survive in this world. …show more content…
One of the most profound questions that seem to be common to humans is: Where did we come from? Totemism provides people with a definitive answer (Whether the answer is in agreement with the rules of nature is a different question. Do you think totemism answers it?).
The chapter also discusses ancient works of art that have been discovered in the caves of
Spain. Why did humans create this art and what significance does it have? The why question we may never know, or so says Moore, and I'm inclined to agree. The significance? Well, these were probably the first written representations of symbols! So what? I'm writing in symbols at the moment and I consider it quite profound to think that the common ancestor of written languages may have its roots in cave paintings made by people tens of thousands of years ago.
I also found an interesting quote on page 16: "Great art is eternal, great science tends to be replaced by greater science." To me, this implies that Art can achieve a state where its greatness transcends time. Scientific knowledge, however, has a provisional quality to it. We need to (and will) discuss what this
In the introduction the author discusses his feelings about the importance of scientific literacy for our civilization. Currently, a swift and far reaching biocide is in progress and there may be ramifications for our civilization if we do not begin to address these issues soon. I agree with the author because I feel that our society has become so insulated from the effects of nature on our lives that we have lost a great deal of respect for it.
Think about it. We live and work in our air conditioned buildings, buy our food at a grocery store, drive around in automobiles which emit carbon dioxide and pollutants. We are shielded from the whims of Nature and their potential effects on our ability to survive in this world. …show more content…
One of the most profound questions that seem to be common to humans is: Where did we come from? Totemism provides people with a definitive answer (Whether the answer is in agreement with the rules of nature is a different question. Do you think totemism answers it?).
The chapter also discusses ancient works of art that have been discovered in the caves of
Spain. Why did humans create this art and what significance does it have? The why question we may never know, or so says Moore, and I'm inclined to agree. The significance? Well, these were probably the first written representations of symbols! So what? I'm writing in symbols at the moment and I consider it quite profound to think that the common ancestor of written languages may have its roots in cave paintings made by people tens of thousands of years ago.
I also found an interesting quote on page 16: "Great art is eternal, great science tends to be replaced by greater science." To me, this implies that Art can achieve a state where its greatness transcends time. Scientific knowledge, however, has a provisional quality to it. We need to (and will) discuss what this