Bertrand Russell wrote-
Quote: Primarily, we call something "good" when we desire it, and "bad" when we have an aversion from it. But our use of words is more constant than our desires, and therefore we shall continue to call a thing good even at moments when we are not actually desiring it......And the laudatory associations of the word "good" may generate a desire which would not otherwise exist......Moreover the use of words is social, and therefore we learn only to call a thing good, except in rare circumstances, if most of the people we associate with are willing to call it good. Thus "good" comes to apply to things desired by the whole of a social group. It is evident, therefore, that there can be more good in a world where the desires of different individuals harmonise than in one where they conflict. The supreme moral rule should, therefore, be: Act so as to produce harmonious rather than discordant desires.
That, in effect, says that the New Scientist quote is immoral as are the DI pronouncements both of which promote conflict at the expense of the kids.
Russell offers marriage as a harmonious arrangement and thus good and the duel as a conflict arrangement and thus bad. But marriage puts the partners in conflict with all others in its exclusivity and is obviously contra evolutionary principles as it sets up reproduction on entirely artificial lines (money, class, property) and the moreso the higher up the social scale is the case in view.
I'm discerning a force field. New Scientist/Reed International/Daily Mirror/Robert Maxwell/Others setting out to overturn the social order using evolution theory propagandised through outlets like the NS. Reed is a mass production unit. Few of its products would be bought by the posh.
The Daily Mirror has long been a left-wing rag and it was once owned by Mr Maxwell who was a Labour MP. He also owned a football club and football is the sport of the lower orders. The Daily Mirror would present an "incident" in Court Circles in a totally different way than would the Daily Telegraph. All the time. Day in day out. Year after year.
To see wande's NS quote, and all his others, as isolated events is as unscientific as unscientific can get. It, they, work on tickling the subjective G-spot. Continually. Positive conditioning.
There is science involved but it isn't to do with the quote it is to do with the cause of it. Celeste, if she is a good writer, could easily, for a 30% salary increase, a larger motor and a key to the higher washroom, present the story in an other light. Just as professional footballers can transfer their allegiance from one club to another.
The science of sunbathing would start at the sun. Not with subjective feeling. And skin pigmentation.
Which leads to some interesting specualtions. For example, the qualities the white races ascribe to the black races are perfectly natural for races evolved in hot climates from an evolutionary perspective and thus beyond criticism. The white races- "working their fingers to the bone to keep warm", as I think Henry Miller had it, would embrace the work ethic and disparage those who didn't.
Wow-- thanks wande. It's the battle of old settled money against new widely distributed money. On the one side those whose incomes derive from selling billions of items to many against those few who hold large portfolios of wealth and presumably fund Disco and probably less successful outfits.
There are no truly educational or scientific considerations involved, just spin, and as there is a widespread "belief" that there are you have a religion.
O Come O Ye Faithful.
The debate is about which religion will have "good" social consequences. And it's a mighty complex matter.
I don't think it could happen here because our educational system is run from the PM down through the Cabinet and outwards and those running it have access to top level philosphy and science including psychology and social statistics whereas your school boards only have access to the NS,and suchlike, and their media sources and thus can hardly be expected to have the slightest inkling what they are talking about. The NS will be on the coffee table, when it is, like the potted plants are in the hallway, when they are.