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To be able to reach some understanding among us, let me point out that my statement was philosophical (about how the world works) and your statement was politic

To be able to reach some understanding among us, let me point out that my statement was philosophical (about how the world works) and your statement was political (about who is right). This distinction is important. In politics, understandably, everyone believes that their actions are right. Those beliefs inevitably lead to warfare. That's why I don't believe in politics. I stick to philosophy now, knowing that the quiet contemplation of the world, without taking sides, will yield some lasting benefits, without reckless wars destroying the insights about ourselves that we have already collected and named 'progress'.

hooverd 3y ago
Eh, somebody has to go out and bend the arc of progress.
- borlanco 3y ago
  Anyone can add to progress, if they acknowledge that progress is whatever works for everyone, literally, for everyone. Who succeeded in doing that? There is Confucius, and Norman Borlaugh, and many others ... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug
  - hooverd 3y ago
    I did read that article. Borlaugh seemed very "political" in his views on agriculture and land use to be. And a good guy! But if local involvement has taught me anything, people always have their own incentives, and it's really impossible to be anodyne it unless you're just letting them run over you.
brokenbyclouds 3y ago
This is a very naive, inexperienced view of politics. In politics, many people have acted in ways they did not believe were right. Many others have acted without a thought given to whether they were right. In some situations, wars have resulted from political actions, but in many other instances, political actions has prevented wars that may otherwise have taken place. Not taking sides is a political action in itself. Not wanting to be involved doesn't mean you aren't involved.

hooverd 3y ago

Eh, somebody has to go out and bend the arc of progress.

borlanco 3y ago
Anyone can add to progress, if they acknowledge that progress is whatever works for everyone, literally, for everyone. Who succeeded in doing that? There is Confucius, and Norman Borlaugh, and many others ... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Borlaug
- hooverd 3y ago
  I did read that article. Borlaugh seemed very "political" in his views on agriculture and land use to be. And a good guy! But if local involvement has taught me anything, people always have their own incentives, and it's really impossible to be anodyne it unless you're just letting them run over you.

brokenbyclouds 3y ago

This is a very naive, inexperienced view of politics. In politics, many people have acted in ways they did not believe were right. Many others have acted without a thought given to whether they were right. In some situations, wars have resulted from political actions, but in many other instances, political actions has prevented wars that may otherwise have taken place. Not taking sides is a political action in itself. Not wanting to be involved doesn't mean you aren't involved.