[Leica] Re: Chimps and gorillas

[walt at waltjohnson.com (Walt Johnson)]

larry.k@rcn.com wrote:

>Walt,
>  I don't discount our human failings but humans continue to thrive and 
> make incredible advances. I thought I was a cynic, but you beat me. 
>  
>

I'm not a cynic I a Secular Pragmatist or maybe a Photographic Humanist

>  
>
>>>This "immensely improved" aspect might need a closer >>inspection. I'd 
>>>gladly give up Beethoven, Bach and the >>Beatles for a more peaceful 
>>>existence. 
>>>      
>>>
>
>  Give up such amazing music for grunting in the bush? Not me. I might go 
> back if we only had the Beatles... ;-)
>
>  
>
While you are grunting I'll be humming Chopin and Johnny Cash.

>>>Visit a geriatrics ward and see how breathtaking modern 
>>>medicine can be. 
>>>      
>>>
>
>  The fact that these people are still above ground and not below ground 
> proves the value of modern medicine. The fact that society does not allow 
> them to contribute or gives them respect in old age is another matter.
>  
>

They may be above ground but mostly to make Medicare payments. As has 
been said many times, "give me a good death rather than a bad life"

>  
>
>>Math, physics and optics are major servants of 
>>governments. They  in turn use these accomplishments to wage >war with 
>>human decency and each other. 
>>    
>>
>  
>  The computers we use, the lenses we buy, are all products of human 
> thought. All human inventions can be used for good or ill purposes. 
>
>  
>
Why is it so difficult to insist on good purposes, seems elementary to me.

>>I'll accept  these breathtaking human accomplishments but >not when 
>>compared to chimps. Let's weight them with what >could or should have been 
>>done with our alleged superior >capabilities. 
>>    
>>
>
>  I don't see how this makes any sense. Nothing against the chimps but 
> we've outperformed our cousins by a large margin, even with all of our 
> problems.
>  
>

I was not comparing accomplishments to chimps but keeping my eyes open 
for *Overman*.

>  Regards, 
>
>  Larry K. 
>
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>  
>

And now, back to Buffalo Spingfiled. :-)