----- Original Message ----- From: "David Dyer-Bennet" <dd-b at dd-b.net> To: <dragaera at dragaera.info> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 7:40 AM Subject: Re: Culture (was Architecture question for Steve based upon theSun, the Moon & > Steve Brust <skzb at dreamcafe.com> writes: > >> On Tue, 2004-10-26 at 11:14, Scott Schultz wrote: > >>> The idea that we're somehow "above" Nature (i.e. the ecosystem and >>> everything in it) is laughable. Heck, the idea that we're something >>> special >>> is equally laughable. >> >> I'm not certain how above, below, or to the side fits into this, except >> that we ARE at the top of the food chain; a position I rather like. > > I'd have thought the *top* of the food chain would be the carrion > eaters. Or at least the obligate carnivores. More like the centre of the food "net" {a much better metaphor for the complexity of the web of the ecosystem} Man has the ability but not the wisdom to restructure this web at will. Man partitions his reality for understanding, survival, action,etc, this skill is a core characteristic of "human nature". The dichotomies of this tool, produces the paradoxes of human nature {in individual and group cases}. God/gods/devils/spirits are an artefact of partitioning, any thing that 'cannot/is not' understood is in the realm of god. god realms are useful to solve/understand things {this is the principal of algebra}, Remapping of this is what the "Cultural" tool Science does, as more principals of Nature{reality} are understood. Other mappings produce different "Cultures" . The test of "Cultures" is survival {at the indervidual, group and socity leveles}. The ultimate test is of course the survival of humanity. {my egocentic view} > -- > David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b at dd-b.net>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/> > RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com/> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/> > Pics: <http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/> > <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/> > Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/> > Culture == a set of tool and techniques which can be passed on. Man == all humans Hi all I have been reading this list for about a month. Read Bust books when that come out, they quickly became some of my favourites. Problem they are not widely published/distributed here in Australia (Canberra) Carl http://cparkes.actewagl.net.au/