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> but what does the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine have anything, in particular, to do with science? Probably not what the author had in mind, but two reason

> but what does the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine have anything, in particular, to do with science? Probably not what the author had in mind, but two reasons I can think of off the top of my head: - science has played a pivotal role in the development of the various weapons humans use to kill each other - had humanity decided to invest more of its resources in "the humanities" instead of the hard sciences, perhaps we wouldn't still be behaving like this in 2022, or at least have higher quality arguments about such matters

samhuk 4y ago
I disagree about the negative correlation between humanitarian studies and war-like behaviors, however it's an interesting point nonetheless. Personally, and it's a rather flimsily held opinion of mine so I'm open to challenges, but I feel like it's quite the opposite. Isn't it the non-humanitarian things that have brought together unlikely sides? At the height of the cold war, Americans and Russians still visited each other's countries for Chess championships, but not much else, right? My history knowledge isn't that great :P
- mistermann 4y ago
  > I disagree about the negative correlation between humanitarian studies and war-like behaviors, however it's an interesting point nonetheless. Fair enough, but also interesting is: - barring access to a counterfactual reality machine, the truth of the matter is unknown - the mind contains processes for generating virtual counter-factual realities, and these simulations are so convincing that it is easy to mistake them for the real thing (which is unknown) It seems highly unlikely that teaching these things in school would not increase awareness of them, though whether it would also have an effect on susceptibility is another matter. I believe that it would improve that also at least somewhat, and perhaps substantially with practice. > Isn't it the non-humanitarian things that have brought together unlikely sides? At the height of the cold war, Americans and Russians still visited each other's countries for Chess championships To me, this is an example of the humanities in action.
  - samhuk 4y ago
    Good points. Thanks for sharing :) Interesting read.
    - mistermann 4y ago
      An implementation will be even more interesting...or so it seems!

samhuk 4y ago

I disagree about the negative correlation between humanitarian studies and war-like behaviors, however it's an interesting point nonetheless. Personally, and it's a rather flimsily held opinion of mine so I'm open to challenges, but I feel like it's quite the opposite. Isn't it the non-humanitarian things that have brought together unlikely sides? At the height of the cold war, Americans and Russians still visited each other's countries for Chess championships, but not much else, right? My history knowledge isn't that great :P

mistermann 4y ago
> I disagree about the negative correlation between humanitarian studies and war-like behaviors, however it's an interesting point nonetheless. Fair enough, but also interesting is: - barring access to a counterfactual reality machine, the truth of the matter is unknown - the mind contains processes for generating virtual counter-factual realities, and these simulations are so convincing that it is easy to mistake them for the real thing (which is unknown) It seems highly unlikely that teaching these things in school would not increase awareness of them, though whether it would also have an effect on susceptibility is another matter. I believe that it would improve that also at least somewhat, and perhaps substantially with practice. > Isn't it the non-humanitarian things that have brought together unlikely sides? At the height of the cold war, Americans and Russians still visited each other's countries for Chess championships To me, this is an example of the humanities in action.
- samhuk 4y ago
  Good points. Thanks for sharing :) Interesting read.
  - mistermann 4y ago
    An implementation will be even more interesting...or so it seems!