Trevor Burrowes Hi Alma, thanks a lot for joining us. There have to be better ways to get a laugh than weeding through what only a handful of specialists even think of addressing. This is all pretty much over my head too.
I'm not really trying to understand philosophy; I tend to be philosophical by nature, although in a highly unschooled fashion. But in order to have more solid footing on what I'm proposing, I occasionally look up things on Wikipedia, and usually find too much and more complicated information than I really want to, or can readily, understand.
Jamaica is a small island with a very coherent geography: the entire coast is flat, with a mountainous spine running lengthwise from east to west. over the centuries of British colonial rule, starting in 1655, towns sprang up by natural harbors along the entire coast. And except where there was exceedingly craggy limestone, the towns were like a string of pearls held together by a narrow coastal road. Since sea travel was by sailboat, and land travel was pedestrian or horse powered, travel was slow, and towns remained rooted and held on to their character. By contrast, the advent of fossil duel power travel in the 20th century allowed towns to sprawl, roads to widen and congest. There was also more industrialization, consumption, economic mobility, more energy dependent construction--like the ubiquitous use of cinder block concrete--and the discarding of architectural heritage. The list goes on. What I'm proposing is based on empirical observation, and the ability to think critically, and philosophy is a useful tool in that endeavor.
I'm not really trying to understand philosophy; I tend to be philosophical by nature, although in a highly unschooled fashion. But in order to have more solid footing on what I'm proposing, I occasionally look up things on Wikipedia, and usually find too much and more complicated information than I really want to, or can readily, understand.
Jamaica is a small island with a very coherent geography: the entire coast is flat, with a mountainous spine running lengthwise from east to west. over the centuries of British colonial rule, starting in 1655, towns sprang up by natural harbors along the entire coast. And except where there was exceedingly craggy limestone, the towns were like a string of pearls held together by a narrow coastal road. Since sea travel was by sailboat, and land travel was pedestrian or horse powered, travel was slow, and towns remained rooted and held on to their character. By contrast, the advent of fossil duel power travel in the 20th century allowed towns to sprawl, roads to widen and congest. There was also more industrialization, consumption, economic mobility, more energy dependent construction--like the ubiquitous use of cinder block concrete--and the discarding of architectural heritage. The list goes on. What I'm proposing is based on empirical observation, and the ability to think critically, and philosophy is a useful tool in that endeavor.
Neither in Jamaica, nor most place do people have a good ability to think creatively or critically. They simply follow the patterns that have become normal through repeated, long term use and through institutional (structural) support for them. Philosophy might be a way to think clearly enough, with enough pattern of logic and reason, that it supports change, however indirectly.
I'll share more opinions and thoughts soon. Very, very best for the New Year!
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