all strains of a virus begin life as a variant.
Not all variants, however, become new strains
so it is with intelligence as with disease
all intelligence begins life as a thought exercise
not all thought exercises, however, become intelligence
The true epidemic of covid19 is to be overwhelmed by absolute certainty
Joe Rogan is a thought exercise in existential uncertainties, rendered in flesh
Canceling comedians is, in effect, an attempt to cancel laughter, and to shame those laughing.
Canceling teachers, however, is arguably more dangerous than attacking performers, because teachers’ end users are young adults under development. Just ask Stephen Kershnar, SUNY Fredonia Philosophy Professor .
Upstream, to cancel a teacher is to cancel learning; to cancel ways of thinking…
Would you rather a world without laughter, or a world without learning?
If nobody thinks, does anybody laugh?
If nobody laughs, does anybody learning?
Prof. Kershnar’s seminar comprised radical thought exercises, wherein a student wrestled with their conscience. The aim of undergraduate college is not to inculcate young adults with facts, but rather to define ethics and morality, in whatever discipline they pursue. Prof. Kershnar’s work was of the highest academic value.
Challenging yourself to believe and argue for something you would never morally believe or ethically act on, is a great way to find out what makes you you. And an almost foolproof way to deepen empathy and lessen cynicism. Academic settings are perhaps the safest and most productive places to engage in existential reflection.
Academic “freedom” is also to protect the most dangerous ideas, in order to scrutinize them
Imagine a dangerous virus laboratory, except instead of keeping smallpox in cold-storage, the lab stores and studies the complete range of human thoughts and ideas – from the most advancing to the most infernal…
That’s a university.
When we wrestle with our conscience, what is on the other side of that argument except that part of us that is built to dehumanize?…
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