More Sloppy Reasoning about Survival.

My posts might appear to be pro one side or the other, and I can see why people think that, and no doubt such thoughts are indeed valid with a few of my posts, but I think that it is worth considering that this might be exaggeration, an illusion brought about by our biases. 

For example my post above might be seen as tending to paint me as anti certain things and pro others, and to a certain extent this will be true. 

But I think saying something that appears to be against science, like Iain might be said to have done in the bolded part of his thinking in the post above (#19) is in fact, not against science, but only goes to express a more nuanced view of things, that might help us (mankind). I highly doubt McGilchrist is anti-science, but he does seem to think that it’s being overvalued, and this is causing us problems. This is why I am for staying open minded. 

I’m sure many that read my posts think that I must be anti-science, as I am highly critical of some scientists and my personality is less refined than some others, so the impression I may give is of a certain flavour - a flavour not to everyone’s taste. Fair enough. The truth is, I do love - truly love a lot of what Science has brought us. For example I found only this morning - technology that coverts audible speech to the written word. This type of thing is invaluable to deaf people as well as saving me loads of time and effort transcribing things like I used to do.

My electric car brings a smile to my face and joy into my heart when I think of it and when I drive it, my IPad, Alexa to switch lights on and off, there are so many things Science has brought us that I am thankful for. High on my personal list is the computer technology combined with virtual reality which has given me a taste of types of flying which I thought had passed me by, as well as bringing to life memories of my days flying airliners. I am not ashamed to say that this science has brought me to tears of gratefulness more than once. I truly love it. 

However, this deeply felt emotion I feel is even more interesting than the technology that science and scientists that made it possible. I am personally more interested in the big questions than in the glamour of even VR technology. 

So when Iain McGilchrist talks about the ‘right Superior Temporal sulcus’, I very much doubt he is saying that it’s value is higher than it’s left brain equivalent, only that it has been neglected at the expense of its more ‘materialist’ brother for far too long. And just as I may seem to favour certain ideas and people over others, I am somehow very aware that all these ideas, just as all these people, both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ as my own bias may box them, are necessary and important and should be valued. Sacred is probably a better way to describe them. 

I hope some of this makes sense to some of you.

I think that on the whole the phrase anti-science is used to mislead. I mean it is used as an ad hominem directed against people who have another scientific viewpoint - usually a viewpoint that is hard to oppose on rational grounds. I don't use such phrases except in quotes.

I was interested that you enjoy flying virtual aircraft. Although I haven't had the opportunity to try VR, it always seems suggestive that people like playing a part in a stage play (even the role of someone very unpleasant) and plunging into VR - getting lost in another life story. It suggests to me that we run our bodies in the same way, and eventually turn off the power and resume doing something else!

Do you see the cockpit through VR goggles, and do you do a complete flight in one go, or do it in stages. I imagine you can choose to have more emergencies than you have experienced IRL.

Are you served meals by pretty simulated air hostesses?

David

Do you see the cockpit through VR goggles, and do you do a complete flight in one go, or do it in stages. I imagine you can choose to have more emergencies than you have experienced IRL.

Are you served meals by pretty simulated air hostesses?

I wrote about it in the Other Topics (https://psiencequest.net/forums/thread-v...it’s-story)

I choose no emergencies, no slots and no management. 

I like flying the Mirage2000, no room for trolley dolleys!

Steve,

I don't find you, or anyone in this community that I can think of, as anti-science.  I agree that it is somewhat of a cheap ad hominem.

What I think most of us are is anti-dogmatists regarding scientific materialism.

As everyone here knows all too well, those are two completely different things.

As everyone here knows all too well, those are two completely different things.

Yes we are all singing from the same hymn sheet on that topic, but not on others. 
That’s where the waters sometimes get muddied.