benjamin katz

Human nature as a kaleidoscope.

benjaminkatz — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:04:26 +0000

A very moving Israeli documentary on young women soldiers in the occuppied territories was presented today in DR 2.It showed very strongly how the jobs they had carried out influenced them deeply, from bursts of anger, depressions,post traumetic disorders and heavy drinking.There were two things worth noting;1)that although this took place in 2005-6 no professional help to cope with the harsh re…alities of their jobs in the West Bank was offered to them, and 2) it makes it very clear-for those who refuse to accept it- that human nature is but a kalaidoscope, which shows different sides, all depending on the cirtcumstances it is exposed to. People in our world have not become better, wars in the world are not over, but for the time being, circumstances have been favourable for better conduct.But how long time will this last?…

How to Rid Yourself of Being a Victim- Global Psychologoy

benjaminkatz — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:17:34 +0000

Talking about guiding people out of their mental trap, one has to consider
the mental positions they have been operating in. As they assume that other
people can expose them, persecute, and convict them, they often feel like
victims. T. was one of them.
T. was a Jew who grew up in one of these neurotic Jewish families, where
the only way of protecting yourself is through passive aggression. He was
married and had three children. He was very much dedicated to his work
and did really well, but in private and social contexts, he did not fare
quiet as well. He kept being passive aggressive in most social relations,
held long speeches for the people he met, and was terrible at problem and
conflict solving since he did not learn how to deal with conflicts and how
to engage in dialogues with people as to create an emotional closeness.
With his wife, he did the same, bitterly accusing her for not listening.
On the other hand, he was very handy and effective in solving concrete
problems and even very glad in taking initiatives where he could do some
good by planning, executing tasks, and delivering concrete results. The
diversity and complexity of human emotions made him insecure, dizzy, and
anxious, and he tried to avoid them or make a hasty withdrawal wherever
and whenever he could. I had to help him bring into this “fluid” emotional
area with other people, some practical problem solving techniques that he
knew from his professional and practical life.
I helped him analyze social situations like creating dialogue with people,
and introducing a rule where he in any sequence was allowed to hold at
maximum two minutes of monologue and no longer, as to make people
willing to get engaged with him instead of rolling their eyes out of boredom.
Dining with his family, he was taught to be actively engaged and attentive
for at least fifteen minutes at a time, talking to them and listening to
them instead of withdrawing into his own world, as he used to do before,
thereby letting the family members ignore him. All the complaints of his
wife had to be translated into, what do you concretely want me to do or
to relate to?
In such a manner, anticipating certain situations and learning to deal
with them, he became much more self-confident. We added to his “manual”
two “garbage cans,” which I operate with in my contacts with people. One
garbage can is for stupid or nonessential comments, and the other one is
for “immutable” stupid or insensitive and cruel people. Using these two
garbage cans skillfully, he was ready to try his new “armor.”
Like many other clients, he told me that he had understood all of it
with his brain, but he was not sure he could keep himself on course and
drop altogether his victimizing strategy. I told him that it was too late to
withdraw back into doubt and defeatism. The cubes of his next moves
were already cast.
“Now, when you know what you have done wrong and the consequences
of your behavior, you will be much better at keeping your focus on the
strategies that will erode your former stupid and self-defeating behavior.
You can still choose to keep doing the same as before, but knowing better

that only your conscious struggle against your old patterns will do the
job, you are sure to stick to this approach. As in all demanding wars, the
front may sway back and forth, but in the long run, you will win more and
more terrain over your old pattern, if you just keep on fighting. This, I can
assure you,” I told him.
And it worked for him as I had assumed. He became much more selfdetermined
in his social encounters and the family dinners became much
more engaged and inspiring for him. And every time his wife will derail him
out of his “new style,” he would say something to this extent, “Well! Can
you come to the point? May I hear something concrete so I can relate to
it?” Your repetitive comments like “You always do so” or “You never do so”
are of no use. I am not going to waste my time on relating to them because
I cannot use them to something useful. May I hear facts, woman!”
So he came to win in the crucial battle of defining the premises for
their discussions and thereby freeing himself from his victim role.
How to Rid Yourself from Being God
There was this very handsome man, thirty-three years old, with charm,
wits, and noticeable charisma. He did fine in the cultural circles of the city
and as well as with attractive young women. He had though one problem:
he liked to discuss all kinds of matters from scientific and logical points
of views. He did not wish to win, as he claimed, but just to enlighten and
eradicate stupidity and lack of reflection. He tried in the same manner to
enlighten his girlfriend. One of their unsolvable discussions was about love.
He meant that love was clearly a function of chemical bonding and reactions
to certain cues of attractions. She got, as one might expect, provoked by
this view, believing solely in the romantic, God-blessed love. He rejected
her Christian view of love and compassion on scientific grounds and thus
provoked a crisis in their relations.
I told him that if he wished to enlighten people in this manner, by
pressing upon them his “scientific” views, he had better get a quick horse,
the escape instrument for those who insist on telling their cherished truth
even though it hurts others. Then I told him the story about the rabbi
who was involved in a quarrel with two people who had disagreed on some
money matters. Upon hearing the first man’s version, he told him that
was completely right in his case. Afterward, the rabbi told the same thing
to the other man when they were alone in the rabbi’s office. On hearing
this, the helper of the rabbi asked him, “How come you said to the first
man that he was right and then to the second one you said the same . . .
that he was right?”
The rabbi looked at his helper, nodded his head, and said, “You are
completely right yourself.”
I told my client afterward that people can have different views of things
and both may be right. Maybe he should learn to accept many forms of
being right besides the scientific view. I told him of Doris Parker who once
said that love is like having mercury in your palm. You hold it open, you
get it. You close your hand on it, you lose it.
Has he learned something of this lesson? I can assure you because
people who are not aware of what they do stupidly learn once you show
them the benefits of doing it differently. Only idiots and psychopaths do
not learn when being served a delicious insight on a silver plate.
Hopefully, you get my point, so I wish to remind you to keep your absolute
convictions strictly to your dialogue with God because with human beings,
there are often many right views.

The world as we knew it is gone!

benjaminkatz — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:43:21 +0000

The world as we knew it is gone, only our illusion-on how good we are- will still linger for sometimes.
There is no doubt any longer, that the Western world as we knew it since the end of World War II, is in historical decline. The economical- financial debacle which hit and amputated both Western Europe and the U.S. since 2008 has not just cast light on the weakness in their financial and economic management and regulation, but signaled out the end of the Western democracies might and moral influence. You cannot be a beggar asking China and other Asian countries to bail you out of your own created crisis and still have the moral high ground. You cannot be a moral leader, when you don´t do anything about the deteriorating global climate.
Our societies have been exposed as incubators for self- indulgent, hot air, pep talk people and politicians who have shown to be immature, impulse steered, deceivers and cheaters. You cannot talk
From now on, there is only one way: downward unless our countries revitalize our societies with new governing system (the current practiced democracy is short sighted and plutocracy infected) , new values and priorities and new upbringing of our children and youth. Without radical change we will- as the world will- keep declining and disintegrating.
But why there is a need for such drastic steps? It is because this economic and financial debacle, our impotence in matter of climate change, our current wars and the mere fact that huge-and growing- numbers of people in our societies have become poor…and the alarming growth of citizens who suffer of mental problems or/and live on social inability pensions, have shown that we have failed in our attempt to create both the best conditions for human welfare and the citizens who are wiser and more responsible compared to people in other societies.
Even when our societies got the best starting point to manage themselves on a fair and sustainable manner-and these were the conditions Western societies were granted since the end of World War II, with high production and productivity, cheap energy and cheap working force from abroad, social agendas, lavish welfare programs and solid institutions to protect human rights and the democratic free speech and accountability – they could not change the base nature of humans, as it this crisis with massive greed, cheating ,stealing, exploiting institutions and speculating in the most contemptuous manner, has witnessed.
This is the most painful and fatal failure of the liberal democracies; failing in creating better, more responsible and enlightened citizenry. We created hot aired bluff regarding being a wiser, better and more conscientious human than others. Instead, what we have created was a self- indulgent, consumer minded and complacent and entitlement minded middle class and masses. We have not succeeded- with all our humanistic pep talk and riches- to make our people set example for others by becoming prudent, sustainable, more decent, wiser and more conscientious than other people. This failure signals, therefore the end of our supremacy as economic powers and the end of our hopes to lead the way for a better humanity. It does not make sense to preach to others on how they should be for they will-knowing who we are- not take a note of what we say on these issues.
We have lost a dream, an illusion and a rare influential position, and the world of human beings, has to seek another alternative in order to guide itself away from its own created , self destructive entanglements.

Når fri debat er så god, hvorfor går det os så dårligt?

benjaminkatz — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 14:41:52 +0000

Hej Ulrik høj! 12.8.2011
Dette brev er ment til at blive læst og ikke mere…
For det første vil jeg gerne sige dig at Lone Frank, Martin Krasnik og du er de journalister som jeg nyder at læse, da I har en kant, kan være underfundige, provokerende, ikke altid passer på jeres flanker og er passionerede.
Det læsebrev fra Christian Mathiesen, som du fik præsenteret på din spalteplads, er meget fint, gennemtænkt og afbalanceret, et pragteksempel af den Danske dannelse. Da der er ikke så mange af dem tilbage, bør de roses. Hans slutning om at indvandrere/flygtninge bør være nyttige for dette samfund og bør acceptere de spilleregler som gælder for dette samfund, er selv indlysende for kloge mennesker – da det forhindrer de problemer som de fleste af de lande bakser nu med i Europa- at det rejser sig et spørgsmål om hvor har dette klogskab gemt sig hen i Europa i så mange år. Dette er et relevant og essentielt spørgsmål i lighed med hvordan vores hensynsløs grådighed og spekulation har ført os inde i denne økonomisk morads.

Christian påpegede de to gamle nestors – Mogens Lykketoft og Uffe Hellemen – synspunkter, hvilket rejser et andet væsentlige spørgsmål; Hvorfor så mange mennesker gentager sig selv i vores kultur til ingen verdens nytte. For mig de to ældre herrer minder om to hunde som gø uafbrudt mod månen, en ritualiseret adfærd som ændrer intet i vores samfund eller verden… hvilket bringer os til et væsentlig spørgsmål til: Hvor megen fri debat er væsentlig for samfundets vel og bæredygtig udvikling? Når vi ser på, hvordan Vesten synker langsomt ned både militært, økonomisk og moralsk og hvordan verdens økologisk tilstand forværres, så kan man med rette spørge, hvilken effekt vores fri debat have til at bedre væsentlige ting… Og når vores politikere diskuterer regnskaber og kommaer i stedet for visioner for et bæredygtig samfund og verden, fristes jeg til at tro, at mest af vores debat er nytteløs og er i realiteten blot pep talk for vores sjælefred og for at holde fast på illusionen om, at vi har fundet den vise sten for det gode samfund.

Fundamentet af vores samfund og vores antagelser om det rette liv(med overvægt på materiel konsum) er et væsentlig emne, som I, journalister, skal se at tage op, hvis i vil gerne bidrage med noget væsentligt(altså som vil komme os og de næste generationer til gode) og ikke blot pep talk, som vi alle, er efterhånden eksperter i.
Mvh.
Benjamin Katz

The Economist

benjaminkatz — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:11:36 +0000

I have , for years, read The Economist,as I was taught; Know your enemies well. And the Economist is an enemy with its stupifying faith in a- reckless- economic growth. By contemplating Kabala which I considerer basically absolete, I found out what is the deep meaning of its name: ECO? NO…and therefore many of the other political issue it presents, become MIST.

The tale of Folly on growing old:

benjaminkatz — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 09:51:35 +0000

Benjamin D`isreali said: Life is too short as to be small. But this is exactly what I excel in. I make people think that they deal with very essential matters in their lives, be it art, literature, war, children games, power games, love and careers etc, in order not to be bothered by the bitter fact; That their life is short and …small.
Poor humans! They have been granted a short life as to understand their own self illusion which I, Folly, wrap them in. There are three ways to get old, which I make bearable for them:
1) Growing old in the old fashioned and common manner, with slow disintegration of body and mind, and which is the inevitable end of most people over the age of seventy, but modern people do not accept it any longer, due to my persuasion and seduction.
2) Growing old like spoiled, playful children as many oldies with decent pensions try to live up to. They believe- becoming children again by my discrete help- that it can not only prolong their lives, being active, engaged and eat certain diets but gives them the best out of life.
3) And there is another common way of growing old- mentally- which hits lots of people already in their twenties or thirties and this mental aging follow them to their graves. This mental aging infects them when they do not dare surprise themselves and the world, by making a difference in the world beyond living their transitory, ordinary lives. They hope that something or somebody will change their lives, but resign to routine, sensuality, day dreams, playing like children, and making the tasks of mundane life as the meaning of life. In all these preoccupations, you will find my signature This is the most common mental aging, yet most demanding for me, as I have to convince people with young body and with old souls, that they are virtually young and promising…

The curse of complacency, mediocrity and bullshit in democracies:

benjaminkatz — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 09:48:16 +0000

The curse of complacency, mediocrity and bullshit in democracies:

There are two unsustainable and aggressive ideologies with Messianic mission, which seem to be on a confrontational course with each other: The liberal democracy-with its unsustainable consumerism and human rights as its flagship- and Islam which is demographic unsustainable with its emphasis on spreading its faith and fighting the infidels. And we are adherents of one of them, poor we. We seem to know much of the failings and shortcomings of Islamic ideology and praxis, but how much do we know of our own ideology` failings?
While the Muslims have their minarets calling them to pray five times daily and keep their habitual focus in check, we have our minarets in the form of our mass media telling us ceaselessly on the bliss of being us, on our freedom, human rights, enlightenment, wise debates, the value of our culture describing our mundane- and not seldom petty- lives, our open mindedness and uniqueness. Both keep our ritualistic thinking intact and compulsive…Both make us kneel down for them…

In a strange manner, the citizens in democratic societies, who are supposed to be the freest of them all, seem to be inclined on accepting doctrines , which claim that lots of events out in the world are steered and guided by external forces , which the citizens have no influence on. That is to say , that the citizen can determine to a great extent his personal life, but h is not free to influence of what goes around him and relates to his life like economic busts, military interventions, political failure to act etc. It seems as in this kind of political order, there is nobody who can or has the right to control his motives and focus in events which are steered by external forces. In this sense citizens of democracies feel too weak as to affect macro processes , which makes them adapt theories that confirm that they are weak in this sense, and that they cannot control and guide these external events. This, our sophisticated naivety, castrates us mentally and makes it impossible for us to understand motives of people like Churchill, who could rise up to the challenge and was sure in- and focused on- his actions. What really happens for people in democracy is that the decision making is blurred by compromises on the verge of pettiness, and they lack any encouragement to practice heroism and megalopsychia. This is why most of us feel doomed to complacency and mediocrity, and this is why our leaders lack the vigor and wisdom of statesmen and remind us of quarrelsome and sleek merchants…and why democracy decays. Fortunately, it seems that more and more people disfavor Capitalism (Economist 9.-15.4.2011), a trend which can revitalize the democratic process, as it becomes less dependent on this greedy ideology.
But how we survive so far on this nutrition of complacency and mediocrity?
There are three great lies promoted by our liberal capitalistic democracy, which sustain us:
1) You are unique or can become unique through self realization.
2) You are free and enjoy fully your freedom. And
3) You can make a lasting difference in the world and thereby leave behind you a memorable legacy.
The lies become self evident when you confront them with the facts from your mundane reality;
1) You cannot become unique partly because if everybody is unique, it is very ordinary to be unique, and partly because you are just a little, easily disposable ´speck` in a mass society.
2) Freedom can be defined by changing contexts but it degenerates and become self destructive unless it is bound to responsibility beyond ones´ own interests and has some farsighted, sustainable and heroic elements in it .The freedom we experience is characterized by a secure, privileged and comfortable ordinary life and a political/ideational passivity on the verge of submission to the existing order. This freedom undermines the ecology of the planet and the future of coming generations. The freedom to express our meaning is meaningless if nobody notices them or they cannot be transformed into enduring changes. So our freedom is rather forlorn and not as attractive as it is presented. Basically almost all people in our societies are complacent, conform, lack a sense of heroism (democracy castrates this motive) and basically ordinary.
3) We live in a society based on mass production which is entirely dependent on growing consumption and the presentation of new goodies in ever growing tempo, be it material or cultural. That is to say that the shelf life of all the goodies in the modern world is very short, be it a book, a song, a debate, electronics etc. There is only a fraction of what we produce, utter or write down which will have enduring meaning for the next generations. Most of it- 99,99%- is doomed to oblivion.
So what is the morale of all this:
Our culture has taught us to believe in bullshit, and we have become complacent and mediocre bull shitters. Do we deserve it or deserve better? We deserve what we accept, and if not, only by following another path we will deserve better!

Til mine klienter: 26.4.2011

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Med venlige hilsner

Klinisk psykolog

Benjamin Katz

Østerbrogade 142,1tv

Mobil -40767357

Gmail- katzbenja@gmail.com

What my friends say on the state of humanity and the future?

benjaminkatz — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:08:10 +0000

Gentlemen,
I have read your opinions and believe that you all are right in many of your points.
My reflections are – maybe- a bit different, so here they come.
Human nature was mainly formated during our hunter-gatherer period, because it was the longest in existence of our race.
At that time there was enough space and resources on the earth . This is why I believe that so widely propagated idea of “living in harmony with nature” in the past is an absolute rubbish. Humans adjusted to the nature as long as it was stronger than them. As soon as they got enough control of some factors, they would abuse them, often with destruction of a given civilisation as a result.
When any civilisation was at it´s peak it could develop thinkers technicians, medics etc.
According to my opinion general masses of population had/have hardly education and interest in a development except for material in imminent future. Most politicians either – they survive on the mercy of the opinion of the masses.
Educating children at school in the environmental way of thinking will almost certainly have a long term affect – if we can cover all schools on the earth with necessary information/materials etc.
This does not mean that our future is hopeless. Humanity has been through many crises that it has overcome, in my opinion mostly because of visionary, charismatic leaders or extremely intelligent and industrious individuals that came with innovative solutions to the existing problems.
I could come with many examples, but this would be too long. You may have a taste of it reading Francesco Alberoni´s “Tree of Life”, or at the other end of the scale an article from “Time”: ” 10 ideas that will change the world – for the better” from March 28th 2011.
I think that particularely inventive individuals will find the way. The needs of the market (or visionary politicians) will of course give it the necessary boost. If Not……..
It was for the lack of it, that we are not already using alternative cars – created after the first oil crisis in the 70-ties.

Another big issue is to possibility to spread evil, which also follows the technical developement.It is possible today to corner the whole world market, with the consequences beyond our imagination.
We got 10 commandements when moving from nomadic to sedentary life. Obviously because it was NOT evident to the people at that time that the sins mentioned were wrongdoings.
I think we need a new set of rules covering the new possibilities of wrongdoings. Wrongdoings on a global scale. If a person commits a malfaisance that hurts many innocents to get personal gains, this person should be persecuted if it can be proven that there was an intent and it was possible to imagine the consequences. The acceptable punishment would be as a beginning to strip the person from all material goods.
Maybe an international court similar to one we already have for war crimes could be a solution.

At the end. my environmentally conscientous behaviour is modest, I try to save water, energy, try to buy durable goods, avoid buyng plastic bags etc etc. My biggest sin is, that I did not cut down on travels. Anybody willing to throw the first stone?

Regards to all,

Albert

Thanks, Benjamin, Arun and Mario for reflecting upon the past, present and the possible future. Great we share the need to reflect.
It is also common now days as before, to reflect on the state of Humanity and come with solutions and models for diverting the “total extinction” course we have taken (?). Truthfulness is important when observing the trail we have found our selves on. As I choose to observe, we live in a total accidental manner. A question to be answered is : can one develop to a state where he or she are not governed by semi conscious behavior ? We can all observe that we act in contradiction to our knowledge.
It seems that in nature the same thing function differently on different levels, so to say, on a given level things can not be different than the way they are. Think of the different states water can manifest at. As Mr. A once pointed out – energy is needed for water to shift between states. Man can not act differently, walking through Life in a poor conscious state. All is left to accident and coincidence. The out come might turn to be in his favour, but as often, not. Looking at the results of the actions we take in our poor conscious level, one should not be disillusioned but only use that to understand the limitations that govern our present state. Acknowledgment and verification of the different states of consciousness is essential for further development. I think we do not develop as a whole but as individuals.
Upgrading our consciousness will open the possibility for Harmonious development for others too.
For many, the idea concerning the possibility of different levels of consciousness sounds odd, one can be conscious or not, with nothing in between, they might say- for them the gate is closed. They will stay in the imaginary sphere they cultivate day after day and no real change will ever take place.Sorry, no apps are available on iTunes.
Our energy should be used to shift from our semi-conscious state.
All the best to you all
shai

Hi all,

Thanks Benjamin for your summary answer to the question of whether we
have become better thinkers and implementers.

My immediate response was to wonder to what extent we, in our little
group, have taken actions that reflect our knowledge? How many have
implemented changes in their lifestyles?

Perhaps not as large or grand as our awareness is. The implementers in
us lag far behind the thinkers. Or not?

For our precious, wonderful planet the answer to both questions is an
unequivocal yes.
And certainly in comparison with those who have come before.

Most every movie going child and adult knows the wisdom in the
Buddhist thinking of ‘fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate and
hate leads to suffering.’ Only they would start with ‘Fear leads to
the dark side.’ as they quote Yoda in Star Wars.

Or the messages embedded in Avatar, Wall.E, Star Trek, maybe even 2001.

Since WW II we’ve increased food production and distribution capacity
enormously. These days there’s lots of fine tuning going on. For
example Carrefours and Sainsbury’s building supermarket networks in
India. Field to market spoilage of fruits & vegetables has
traditionally been 35-40%. Supply chain supermarkets reduce it to 5%
increasing enormously the availability of produce.

Supply chains, started during the war ensured that every American
soldier in Europe could be supplied with daily rations of M&M’s and
Coca Cola. One might argue the moral benefits and expense but the
point is that The Flying Tigers picked up on supply chains after the
war. Corporations like Macdonald’s refined and fine tuned them.

Assembly lines started with Springfield rifles and Chicago’s slaughter
houses. The Model T drove the ideas to incredible development.

We do these things as a matter of routine today. Increasing
implementation and penetration? Well perhaps a matter of precious
time.

Another cute idea is that no two countries both having Macdonald’s
have ever engaged in a conflict. Gotta check this one out, seems there
might be something to it.

Who will make the decisions necessary? Neither politicians nor
consumers seem to be likely candidates.

My hunch is that it will be corporate leaders and those close to them.
They are, on the whole, fairly smart, wise and powerful. Also more
spiritual than we think.

Not dictators perhaps but they certainly can influence our lifestyles
and the degrees of freedom we perceive ourselves as having.

Hmm, how to illustrate this? Mads Øvlivsen is an excellent example.
They are around although we hear mostly about the rapacious. That’s
what gets ink in a business driven media.

There are so many business leaders who go about doing mitzvahs and
working for the greater common good. Many more than we like to
think… a group think in and of itself, darn.
I’m not saying that Wrigley’s chewing gum or Toyota cars will do it. I
am saying they have a pretty good chance of trying.

Kids are readily influenced by the brilliance of marketing. Yes. But
there are also many bright kids who are not. I don’t think that pep
talked group thinkers are as prevalent as all that. Could be wrong
though.

For me the question is not of whether we think or implement better. We do.

The question is not whether we can solve what may fly into our faces.
The answer could be yes. It won’t be Cop 17, 18 or 19 but through
corporate initiatives.

Their efforts will be catalyzed and enhanced by the global cortex
we’ve built ourselves since ARPA put together the first internets and
the world wide web kicked in with html.

A fantastic invention this global cortex, it generates diversity and
is acted upon by selective forces that drive the development of the
social media among more profound things. Its been breathtaking in its’
takeovers & makeovers of our behaviors.

The question is more on the order of whether or not we can see
ourselves as a whole earth. Whether we can know and practice the idea
that whatever we do affects the rest of us.

The butterfly effect if you will. Or Rumi’s wonderful, ‘All know that
the drop becomes a part of the oceans. Few understand that the oceans
become a part of the drop.’

Will the sun rise or set on us? The answer, for now, is yes

Which yes?

Wonder, if you will, along with me, to what extent we, in our little
group, have taken actions that reflect our knowledge?

How many have implemented changes in their lifestyles?

Hugs,

Dear Arun
I appreciate your angle on things.
I always get suspicious, when I am presented with the notion that the past was better and the future bleak. Not so says I. Just a few decades ago we were on the brink of atomic annihilation, forests were suffering the consequences of acid rain and the seas around us were heavily polluted. Not so any more in western Europe. Wealth and education tend to clean things up. The rest of the world is fast catching up with us. Yes the world is changing, evolving. North African political change largely due to electronic and mobile communication and media.
Good leadership points the way, but transformation depends on the movement of the masses. Large well educated middle classes seems to help. Elitist leadership, the wise knowing best and leading the stupid masses invariably gets corrupted and fails.
Will humanity succeed in avoiding extinction in the coming centuries? I am pretty optimistic in spite of climate changes, tectonic upheavals, overpopulation etc. etc. Of course a large meteor may be on collision course with Earth this very moment. It was nice knowing you guys!

Like Benjamin I am convinced that our future lies in the stars, like Arun I am certain that science is necessary to get us there.
Mentally we are not capable evolving enough in time. Perhaps when we start interfacing with the coming generations of super computers. However that will probably create as much grief as joy and innovation. Did anyone see Terminator?
We may suffer, but we will persevere (I hope) and we may as well enjoy ourselves while we can.

Mario

Are we wise enough ..or stupid enough?

benjaminkatz — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:55:49 +0000

A friend of mine asked for my opinion regarding whether we have become better thinkers and executioners of our plans in relation to the huge problems we face today, and in comparison with other generations before us.

This crucial question will be fully answered only if Homo sapiens can create and maintain a sustainable global civilization in essential areas like demography, economy, ecology and lifestyle and values or … if he fails. If we succeed, the answer is self evident; we have proven to be both good thinkers and executioners. If we fail-we are not just bad thinkers and executioners, but we risk bringing doom upon most of us.
All these elements-demography, economy, ecology and lifestyle and values- are interdependent and are unsustainable in our era. If we imagine that we can sustain a population of over 9 billion people in 2050, it implies much greater food production and safer distribution than we have today. Agriculture is one of the greatest pollutants in the world, causing many indirect deaths already now. Cheap energy is a precondition for transportation, distribution and fertilization of fields(oil` byproducts), but cheap energy is running out. And on top of all these, climate change will affect severely the output from agriculture through natural catastrophes like draughts, over flooding etc. So there is no way out of forcing population control and some kind restricted consumption in almost every material aspect, if we are to escape the “bottle neck” of oncoming catastrophes..
Have we become better thinkers, viewing this oncoming situation ´before the storm?`
Better education, nutrition and access to information support the contention that we have become better thinkers.
On the other hand:
- Pollution which affects our children and youngsters, massive brainwashing (BBB-bullshit baffles brains) pep talk and debilitating groupthink in the form of senseless consumption, self realization and political passivity among citizens (lack of political courage to change the current order).
- specialization(which often results that one cannot see the forest, focusing on the trees)
- and the immense growing numbers of people with emotional disturbances in the modern world- a condition which interferes with clear thinking, as people use much energy on circular reflections, negative introjections and projections- lends support to the latter, that we have not become wiser and better thinkers.
Therefore the next 40 years will deliver the evidence of whether we were wise enough to resolve our entanglements or dumb enough as to doom most of ourselves. The trial is clear: Either we enforce sustainability or fail to do so with the inevitable consequences for Homo sapiens.

The tale of Folly 24.3.2011

benjaminkatz — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:16:49 +0000

I am Folly, the goddess over all gods and the subtle master of Homo sapiens. They just do not know it, because I confound their minds and lead them through my snares of illusion to believe in their greatness. My greatest achievement so far, is manipulating intelligent, self reflecting life like them, to believe that their aspiration for megalopsychia will be achieved following my voice. I confound their minds to believe that megalomania is megalopyschia, and I do it for their own sake, for their peace of mind… because if they just knew how foolish they are, they would implode mentally.
I was not to determine their cave man` perspectives and mindset in the dawn of their awareness. We were three from the beginning to determine their destiny…and we have had different agendas.
My role was to maintain their caveman´ logic and life view, and garner it with all kind of lofty illusions like breaking away of this set of mind. I granted them illusions on how they could transcend their insignificant, temporary existence by praying to- believing in- and exercising rituals for the sake of- one God or another. I granted them illusion on their capacity to accomplish perfection, self realization, ever growing economy and prosperity, on the blessings of greedy capitalism, saintly socialism and the resurrecting force of love, compassion and progress.
And they did not know that all these constructions- be it religion, ideology or conviction- were just other disguises of the same cave.
And I granted them fabulous humanism, without sustainability, so they praise the value of every human being, while destroying the conditions for their lives on earth. You can clearly trace my signature- A unsustainable humanism, which is foolish and self destructive and which they cherish blindly. And I granted them hope, unbending hope to believe, that their illusions would bring them to a better destination, to a better life and becoming better beings. And they believe and hope, all the while they keep stumbling on their own feet, going in circles, until one day, they will destroy themselves. This is my holy purpose; Their demise without suffering too much!

Mobil- 40767357