The weekend after T’giving and I will post my usual FYI posts.
There is always some dude walking the streets of a city with a sign that reads “Repent! The End Is Near”….and when asked he will wax poetic and spew doom and gloom.
There are philosophers that believe that we humans have reached the pinnacle of our intelligence.
Despite huge advances in science over the past century, our understanding of nature is still far from complete. Not only have scientists failed to find the Holy Grail of physics – unifying the very large (general relativity) with the very small (quantum mechanics) – they still don’t know what the vast majority of the universe is made up of. The sought after Theory of Everything continues to elude us. And there are other outstanding puzzles, too, such as how consciousness arises from mere matter.
Will science ever be able to provide all the answers? Human brains are the product of blind and unguided evolution. They were designed to solve practical problems impinging on our survival and reproduction, not to unravel the fabric of the universe. This realization has led some philosophers to embrace a curious form of pessimism, arguing there are bound to be things we will never understand. Human science will therefore one day hit a hard limit – and may already have done so.
With that said is it possible that our decline may have already began?
As the world reels under each new outbreak of crisis—record heatwaves across the Western hemisphere, devastating fires across the Amazon rainforest, the slow-moving Hurricane Dorian, severe ice melting at the poles—the question of how bad things might get, and how soon, has become increasingly urgent.
The fear of collapse is evident in the framing of movements such as ‘Extinction Rebellion’ and in resounding warnings that business-as-usual means heading toward an uninhabitable planet.
But a growing number of experts not only point at the looming possibility that human civilization itself is at risk; some believe that the science shows it is already too late to prevent collapse. The outcome of the debate on this is obviously critical: it throws light on whether and how societies should adjust to this uncertain landscape.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xwygg/the-collapse-of-civilization-may-have-already-begun
If the end is near the next question will be….what cokes with the end of history?
We all have a sense, however vague, of our position within history: a set of assumptions about how the past, present and future join together. Our understanding of the world’s direction of travel – decline, progress, cycle, apocalypse – is shaped by the events we see happening around us, but also by politics.
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/observations/2019/11/what-comes-after-end-history
Is the end near?
I Read, I Wrote, You Know
“Lego Ergo Scribo”
It seems as if the ‘end has been near’ for most of my life. Hopefully, I will be gone before it happens.
Best wishes, Pete.
Yeah as it has for most of history according to those religious freaks…..but the IQ seem to be dropping and that cannot be good….chuq
Boys, cant regret to your comments. 😉 Have a beautiful 1. Advent! Michael
Michael hope your weekend is happy and productive chuq
Thank you Chuq! 🙂
😎
I don’t know when the end will be, but I doubt humans will last as long as the dinosaurs did.
I give humans another 1000 years and they will be a fossil for a new day chuq
You are more optimistic than I.
I have a question, Professor ….First refer to this that you wrote: “Human brains are the product of blind and unguided evolution. They were designed to solve practical problems impinging on our survival and reproduction, not to unravel the fabric of the universe.” — My question is, “If our brains were “Designed” as you say, how then can they be the product of “Blind and Unguided Evolution?” Doesn’t “Designed” imply that there is some form of intelligence behind the design? — Is “Blind and Unguided Evolution” an intelligence unto itself? Is there such a thing as Blind and Unguided Intelligence?
Part “B” to my previous question: “Is it possible that if there is such a thing as “Blind and Unguided Intelligence,” it would explain how our politicians operate? LOL
Same thought….sorry I wrote before reading totally…my bad chuq
a little “bad” perhaps …(sometimes) but still loveable.
First I did not say that…I merely posted some thoughts from the scientific world….so blame the author not the messenger…yes there is and today’s political society illustrates it chuq
You should reference quotes. (In parenthesis) —– thus: “I said the earth is flat”. (From Lines By Liming).
The quotes are indented and source at the bottom….needs little else. chuq
Blind and Unguided Evolution is the thing of Darwinism much of which was dismissed and modified by modern evolutionists a good 40 years ago. Evolution is very planned, designed and meticulous as species’ DNA allows them to adapt and change when necessary with inbred calculations not mere chance mutation as Darwin suggested but he was advanced for his time. . Darwin had no way of knowing about DNA, gene adaptation and gene manipulation. A DNA strand looks pretty well designed to me as does the universe in general. On the other hand , the US congress seems to be whirling in a tempest of uncertainty and dysfunction. The Founders sure didn’t “plan” that.
Evolution is an adaptation to the environment….planned? Not really just a reaction….chuq
I think the main environmental problem in the plastics, pesticides, fertilizer , and other byproducts of petroleum.
Civilization as a social concept is also breaking down due to overpopulation.
I worry about the next few generations.
You are not alone my friend…..chuq