4.0241 The Age of Knowledge (2/38)
Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Mon, 2 Jul 90 21:01:33 EDT
Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 4, No. 0241. Monday, 2 Jul 1990.
(1) Date: Fri 29 Jun 90 10:14:00 (24 lines)
From: dusknox@skipspc.idbsu.edu (Skip_Knox)
Subject: Knowledge [eds]
(2) Date: Fri, 29 Jun 90 20:57 PDT (20 lines)
From: KESSLER <IME9JFK@UCLAMVS.BITNET>
Subject: Re: 4.0236 ... Transient Knowledge ...
(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri 29 Jun 90 10:14:00
From: dusknox@skipspc.idbsu.edu (Skip_Knox)
Subject: Knowledge [eds]
Michael Hart's comments about the age of knowledge are specious. When I
learned about the Roman Revolution I was 27 (or so). But those were not
"fresh facts" - the knowledge was centuries old. But then, that whole
logic is nonsense. Was the knowledge as old as the text I read, or as
old as the events themselves? If I re-read the text, does the knowledge
become new again, as I gain fresh insights upon re-reading, or is it the
same old knowledge?
And I am frankly astonished to find anyone arguing that the brain gets
full. On the contrary, I've always understood senility to be in part
biological inevitability (sigh) but in part also the result of mental
inactivity. We've all seen active old people who attribute their
vitality to the fact that they try new things. It's when you STOP
trying to fill up your brain that you risk senility.
-= Skip =-
DUSKNOX@IDBSU.IDBSU.EDU
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------22----
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 90 20:57 PDT
From: KESSLER <IME9JFK@UCLAMVS.BITNET>
Subject: Re: 4.0236 Responses: Midrash; Transient Knowledge (2/69)
Sorry, but information qua news gets old; knowledge is something else
again. We put away what we thought as children, not because it is old,
or out of date but because it belongs to an epoch in ourselves we
include, but stand outside of. Playing with numbers is absurd, when it
comes to knowledge. A little self (or Psycho) analysis would reveal
immediately that old knowledge is oftern dterminant knowledge. If we
could be reborn each day with new news, what would we be like? Of
course old and recent information and knowledge is what we must always
work with in a lively fashion, lifely fashion. Try some of Idries Shahs'
Sufic anecdotes and you will see what old knowledge makes new again each
time, as in Aesop, which is more accessible. What sort of knowledge
lies inside a fable like that of the ass in the lion's skin? does it get
old, even if asses are not running down the alley where you live, I mean
4 legged ones, and lion skins are worn only by Masai today? Etc.
Kessler.