In the 3rd movement of Italian composer Luciano Berio’s piece Sinfonia (1968-9), the narrator says, somewhat ominously: “…you buy your seat and you wait, perhaps it's free, a free show, you take your seat and you wait for it to begin, or perhaps it's compulsory, a compulsory show...”.
Raymond Tallis, speaking for the Manifesto Club in London, presented a spirited sally against the threat of “neuro-determinism.” To his way of thinking, determinism robs us of the “Enlightenment faith that… a human being is ‘an independent point of departure’. Each person is a new beginning, able to contribute to shaping the future for good or ill.
Tikkun’s November/December 2007 cover story by David Belden, Science and Spirit, concerns the supposed dangers of scientism and the pressing need to counterbalance science with an intuitive and spiritual way of knowing. Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun and leader of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, is quoted as saying that
What if we came to grips with the fact that human behavior, like all macro-level natural phenomena, is fully a function of the context it arises in and the circumstances preceding it? This simple, straightforward claim seems confirmed by everything science tells us about ourselves, yet is resisted mightily by many.
Writing for Reason, senior editor Brian Doherty discusses the Andrea Yates insanity defense, which was successful the second time around. He says (emphasis added):
In the feverish race to understand what makes us tick, genes have been getting considerable attention recently. With millions to be made on patenting DNA sequences, it’s little wonder that scientists, universities and biotech companies are nailing down the mechanics of life left and right. Genomics entrepreneur J. Craig Venter has declared that in three years the complete human genetic code will be in hand, or at least in his hands, to be used for good or for ill.
When worldviews collide, it’s useful to step back and consider the root differences between them. It’s these differences, after all, that explain the collision. If conflict between worldviews threatens to get out of hand, we might want to mitigate it by seeking common ground. If such exists, then ideological opponents can perhaps be brought to some level of mutual tolerance, and worldviews might peacefully coexist.
“…State Police detectives will investigate whether the man’s behavior should be treated as a medical or a criminal matter.” – Graying duo keep passenger in check, Boston Globe, 6/5/07.
“Neither side disputes that Gomez, a diagnosed schizophrenic, is mentally ill.” - Clash on shooter’s free will, York Daily Record, 6/16/07.
If you’re a friend or relative of a homicide victim, the last thing you want to hear about is the killer’s tale of woe. Yes, he probably grew up in a rough neighborhood, but didn’t he choose to pull the trigger? Outraged and hurt, it’s retribution, not understanding, that might be your top priority.
