Miles Jackson wrote:
>
> > To summarize, much of what passes for today's science (or art) is in fact a
> > social ritual (a 'sentiment of rationality') performed to maintain the
> > social class and status of people who "own" that ritual in one capacity or
> > another. This statement is not intended to "deconstruct" science (or art),
> > but rather re-affirm its objectivity by weeding out its false (i.e.
> > subjective) forms.
>
> Why the dichotomy? Science has multifarious effects: it can at the
> same time create scientific "professionals" and contribute to the
> growth of genuine scientific knowledge. (The social ritual is part
> of the culture of "good", "objective" science, not an aberration.)
>
Social ritual is not merely part of the culture of good science, it is inseparable from being human. One might as well sneer at those who cook their pork chops rather than eat them raw. Probably full and satisfactory use of the internet for discussion will only come with the development of a more rigid set of social rituals to channel that discussion.
And, of course, what Wojtek says of "today's science (or art)" has been true of all past science and art and will be true of all future science and art. It may be tautology that one of the many results of such necessary ritual is to maintain the position of the users in the complex of social relations which constitute any social order, past, present, or future, but the alternative would be for humans to live according to the myth Rousseau puts forth of the original humans living apart totally from each other. I believe the consensus is that Voltaire misunderstood Rousseau's use of that myth, but Voltaire's comment would certainly apply to Wojtek's weird paragraph above. From memory: Paraphrase of Voltaire from memory: "Although . . . .I have become too accustomed to wearing clothes, cooking my food, and shitting in in private to reject those customs now."
Of course shitting in private is an important ritual in maintaining one's social status. It would be powerfully equalizing, perhaps, if all toilets (public and in homes) were in the open. Perhaps holes could be dug in living-room floors.
And he found Carlo Gonzaga sitting like a mud-frog
in Orbetello And he said:
"_Caro mio_, I can not receive you It really _is_ not the moment."
(E.P., Canto X)
Carrol
> Miles
>
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