More thoughts on Novum Organum

We can not keep doing the same old things and expect different results. (I think that this is a the definition of insanity.) Whenever, we keep getting the same thing over and over again, we fail to look at what we are doing to cause it.

There is a an argument in education as to what it means to improve education. If we could find the way to improve education, then we could find ways to improve the human mind. While education is individual and personal, the field of education is doing very little to personalize education. Bacon observed that we are doing very little to improve the human mind. We are also doing very little to find the truth. "We tend to believe what we want to believe." It seems to be that way with subjects such as global warming.

Bacon holds a discussion on the inadequacy of our words. The problems with language is that words bring to mind different images according to our own experiences. While the word "cold" might mean images of snow flakes to some, in Arizona, it might mean images of ice cubes in a glass of water.

There is also a distortion of history due to words, but also do to our own experience. The other problems with history are due to the meaning of words changing, but also limited point of view. It is very difficult to get every one's vision of an event. As we compare points of view, we will see discrepancies due to the varying perspectives.

Thoughts on Novum Organum

I don't know what happened to my last posts. I hope this works. On Thursday, during my online class, we began to discuss Novum Organum. We just got through the first aphorisms. This has been a very slow process to get through this book.

The summary for today's reading:

There needed to be restoration of science in his day. Science being knowledge. The problem with science in our day is that what is being imparted to us through the media is not science. Take the recent Swine Flu scare. While there may have been concern, it need not have bordered on hysteria. The information being disseminated to the public was not based on true scientific findings.

Bacon pointed out that there needed to be debate and supposition in some science in order to bring us to the right conclusions. While we are just beginning to know and understand viruses, there is certainly a call for debate on what the Swine Flu was going to do. However, I am not sure that the place for such debate is in the media. The debate over the Swine Flu in the media did not lead us to further understanding of the Flu.

Bacon also asserted that we base our current knowledge on knowledge gained from past experience and thought. In the case of the Swine Flu, I remembered getting the Flue shot in 1978 during the last outbreak and received the flu from the shot. So, my experience did not support the current thinking on the outbreak.

However, this has a broader application than just in science. We base our judgments and decisions on past experience. Which is a challenge for long term relationships, we tend to base our responses on past experience and not what is before us in the present.

The last aphorism for today was Aphorism 39. Bacon discusses the four kinds of idols besetting mankind. He named the idols of the Tribe, Cave, Market-place, and Theatre. Idols being were we spend our focus and the concentration of our thought. The Idol of the Tribe has to do with exaggeration, distortion, and disproportion to our thinking. The Idol of the Cave has to do with a reference to the Allegory of the Cave by Plato. The cave represents our minds and thinking. If we concentrate on only one branch of learning, we tend to define everything by that branch of learning. The Idol of the Mareket-place has to do with out talking our opponents and therefore, we be believe we have one the argument. The Idol of the Theatre is accepting other peoples beliefs as our own without thinking about what we are accepting. These idols are certainly prevalent in our thinking today and they are what slow us down as individuals and as a society.

Not that I believe that we should challenge every single thing we hear, but I believe that we do not spend enough time in thinking about our lives. I find it very difficult in my life to find time for the "refreshing pause" of thinking. I will assume that others have that challenge.

CHRISTMAS 2008

Christmas was great because Ben was home this year. I felt satisfied because the Christmas that he went into the mission field, I did not receive a phone call at Christmas nor when he got to Colorado. I got a call from his mission president, but I didn't get to talk to him. It was great to have Ashton and Lydia visit as well.

After Christmas, Julia and I went to Utah to visit with my parents. Here are a few remembrances of that time.

Ben Comes Home

We waited with anticipation as Ben's plane pulled up to the gate. We could hardly wait to see him. It was the best feeling when we put our arms around him. We went to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen and then to President Bluth's house for his release.

Julia Sings Like An Angel

Julia has joined the school choir. She had a concert last week and it was great. Here is a photo of her singing.

The Grand Canyon

We went up to Utah to visit my dad and Lydia and Ashton. It was great to see everyone again. We had lunch with Marisa VanSkyver. On the way back, we stopped at the Grand Canyon

Shoulder Surgery

I had shoulder surgery on Aug. 27th. They did a lot to my shoulder. They unjammed my arm fro the socket, took off a bone spur, got rid of a floating piece of cartilage, and fixed the SLAP tear of my rotator cuff. My shoulder healed so much faster than I expected. The doctor couldn't believe that all I had was three full weeks of physical therapy. I am being released from physical therapy and I am so excited. I am getting back to exercising and it feels great.