Book Review: A New Ethic for Humankind

‘A New Ethic for Humankind’ by Fred G. Thompson is a book trying to show that in view of the increasing population, energy shifts,  resource consumption and pollution, the creation of a sustainable world will need massive change in human attitudes and actions, in fact a ‘‘new ethic’’ for humankind. It tells how, the principles of conduct needs to be changed to create the New Ethic.

It begins with an overview of the ‘Cassandras’ of our planets future, those who have been predicting a dismal period ahead for the world, like Richard Carson, Alvin Toffler and Al Gore. It then goes on to examine population growth and specific cases relating to some of the fastest growing countries of the world. And the author observes, population control has shown some possibility of achievement, but economic growth has not, therefore we need to develop a form of "holistic economics" to modernize economic theory and practice with a view towards a sustainable planet. Next chapter examines a natural consequence of population and economic Growth, environmental breakdown and its effects like climate change and global warming.

Observing the changes in our lifestyle and consumption pattern was something happened naturally, the author tries to examine it further, at what point will this consuming lifestyle be changed, slowed down or even reversed, driving the world away from an unsustainable future? The book then lists down the blockages that are stopping us making progress toward reasonable goals, like public apathy, denial, compassion, cost, political will.

The book then examines the path to the future, attending specifically on a suggested action path, of traditional organizations like government, industry and household social inventions like the Red Cross and YMCA, and other specialized communities. And an excellent summary brings the book to a close.

Of course the background, the main influences and the present position regarding environmental issues are given a good hearing in this book, but, what could have been the most interesting part, the discussions about future scenarios of these issues, are given only a scant mention. The author suggests a multitude of possibilities, both from the organizational end and from the functional end of the task in hand, as well as introduces new and rather revolutionary ides of communities with specific interests and strength. But another important aspect of a new stance like this, which may be suited well for governments, of unifying all these efforts towards the task of establishing a conducive environment for growth for tomorrows world, need to be addressed anew.

Book Review: SEVEN BRIEF LESSONS ON PHYSICS

SEVEN BRIEF LESSONS ON PHYSICS by Carlo Rovelli is a book about the most challenging theories of today’s scientific world. I opened this book and on reading the first line, instantly selected it for review, for it says, ‘These lessons were written for those who know little or nothing about modern science’. True, these lessons cover the fascinating aspects of the great revolution that has occurred in physics in the twentieth century, and of the questions and mysteries which this revolution has opened up.
The first lesson is dedicated to a beauty, Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Einstein's major breakthrough in realizing Newton's gravitational field is not a field at all but is spacetime itself is explained here. The extraordinary idea, a stroke of pure genius that the gravitational field is not diffused through space; the gravitational field is that space itself. This is the idea of the theory of general relativity. Newton’s ‘space’, through which things move, and the ‘gravitational field’ are identified now one and the same thing.
The second one is about quantum mechanics, which opens to us, some of the most baffling aspects of modern physics. Unlike relativity, the basic tenets of which are easy to understand, quantum theory - wave particle duality, entanglement, the uncertainty principle - have left even the theory's great founders uncertain. Rovelli zeroes in on one of the essential qualities of quantum mechanics and elaborates how, its laws "do not describe what happens to a physical system but only how one physical system affects another". I find it an illuminating thought that the same emphasis on the philosophy of interactions which lies at the heart of quantum theory also underlies the science of emergent complex systems like the weather, the stock market, biochemical networks and social networks.
The third is dedicated to the cosmos, which talks about the Big Bang theory and the architecture of the cosmos, but for gravitational waves. What all contributed to the present idea of cosmos like radio telescopes, particle detectors and other means of foray into space is discussed here.
The fourth is dedicated to elementary particles. Quarks and electrons, Higgs bosons and neutrinos find mention here. How all this culminated in the Standard Model of particle physics, and how it remains incomplete and the opportunities of further discoveries are detailed here. How we have arrived very far from the mechanical world of Newton and Laplace, a world of long precise trajectories in geometrically immutable space, to one of continuous, restless swarming of things.
The fifth deals with quantum gravity. The fifth lesson tackles the marriage of general relativity with quantum mechanics, which so far could not be solemnized. Universe contracting into a nutshell, time and space disappearing altogether, and the world dissolving into a swarming cloud of probability are some of the esoteric topics discussed here.
The sixth is on probability and the heat of black holes. The sixth lesson takes us on a journey into one of the most exciting frontiers of modern physics: the union of thermodynamics, quantum mechanics and relativity, posing questions like why time seems to flow only in one direction. As Rovelli explains, the arrow of time seems to be inextricably linked with the flow of heat. Time, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, statistics; it's all here, and it's all tantalizing.
The final section of the book returns to ourselves, and asks how it is possible to think about our existence in the light of the strange world described by physics. The lesson ties it all up together as Rovelli talks about the ultimate entity that allows us to figure all this out - the human brain. He ponders the delectable paradox that an entity which is composed of particles and fields and quanta can also decipher its own mysteries. (I used to have a similar question, how can we know about life when we are in it? We should able to see life from the outside, to understand it better!)
What touched me most is the total absence of mathematics. The author has taken an intrepid step in answering the problems of our existence without the help of mathematical formulae. And that has paid of well. This remarkable book will go a long way in making clear, the reigning issues of physics, that too, some of the most complex ones.

Book Review: Psychology of The Nations

‘Psychology of The Nations’ By A. L. KIP is an amazing book. It is well known that every nation is different from all the others. This book is trying to find the central and substantial national difference, from which all the minor differences flow as consequent effects. What emotional or intellectual faculty of a nation is causing this? It begins with the identification of the globe with the brain in a general way. Just like the division of human faculties to cerebrum, cerebellum etc, it places the dwellers of the eastern hemisphere with greater aptitude for intellectual activity, and the western hemisphere inhabitants with mostly emotional activity etc. “Thus, in a general way, Australasia corresponds to the abstract emotional faculties; Asia, to the abstract intellectual faculties; Europe, to the concrete intellectual faculties Africa, to the emotional intellectual faculties, North America, to the emotional feelings and South America, to the intellectual feeling”.

The book then goes into a deep study of each nation to identify the peculiarities of the countries’ ambience and the defining part of her people’s nature. “Of the Lesser Sunda Islands, the cluster from Lombok to Ombay seems to correspond to the faculty of rejoicing the good things of others; and, in the opposite, to be envy of them. The island of Sumba seems to correspond to the faculty of recognizing that no one can have everything; and the island of Timor, to the faculty of being glad in one's own possession.” People are identified as having certain qualities by virtue of their belonging to a particular country. For example, those from Uruguay are grave, resolute, and resourceful, and are noted for the vigor and earnestness with which they have resisted encroachments on their liberties and possessions. Whereas, Argentina corresponds to the faculty of indifference, which is the antithesis of the faculty denoted by Uruguay. In such a manner this book covers all nations of the Earth, to reach certain interesting conclusions. “In a general continental aspect, North and South America are masculine and initiative; while Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australasia are feminine and receptive in comparison with them: for the male is the intellectual expression of good, or intellectualized feeling; and the female is the emotional expression of truth, or emotionalized intellectual.” The author makes a suggestion that such disposition of intellectual faculties to different parts of the globe could be due to the unequal influence of land and water in different countries. Those in America, Asia, Europe etc, in fact are surrounded by varying amount of water. Or take the way the book treats India, a country of intuition. “India is the picture of a faculty more powerful at the top than at the base. It is evidently the faculty of intuition. As so little is known in regard to the nature of this faculty, it will be well to give the correspondences of all the provinces of India. In a most general way, they are as follows: Assam is intuition as to who are worthy objects of kindness and generosity, Bengal is intuition as to what is true, the Central Provinces are intuition as to what is good, Rajputana is intuition as to what is right and best to do…”

This I found is a novel approach to demystifying human society. However, many of the conclusions drawn regarding the nature and character of people in various countries seem to be arbitrary. But though the connections are not unequivocally established, a link between the character of people belonging to a country and its geographic particularities, I think, was a bold step, that too in 1910!

My Predictions

As days go by, my predictions regarding the future of humans, especially of females and mainly focused of their social stature, (mentioned in my book: The Unsure Male) seem to be becoming more and more aligned with reality. Events of significance are taking place one after the other, that too with the pace turning quicker every day.

Take their attire, for example. Earlier itself a few murmurs were in the air, surreptitiously at least, about the demeaning dresses females have to wear in swimming pools, beauty contests and other social gatherings. Now, not only that all those dresses are going to be done away with, as far as contestants of such events go, all other females including athletes are required to wear more ‘appropriate’ dresses (whatever that may mean).

Or take academic restrictions for girl students. For example, see the recent instructions regarding utilization of library facility, that, it is not to be used at times that is not one of the prescribed hours. More restrictions are now being mooted, for time, dress etc., like proscribing sleeveless blouse and skirt.

Of course, all such impositions cite many incidents, where women or girl students are subjected to wanton disturbance. Why don’t we see that they are being constantly subjected to such awful things exactly for this reason, i.e., as an excuse for introducing new restrictions? And these attacks will act as a clarion call for those looking to justify more and harsher female-oriented restrictions?

Book Review: Prohibitions

‘Prohibitions’ edited by John Meadowcroft on behalf of the institute of economic affairs, is a collection of papers about our governments’ attempts at prohibition, which, says the author, ensures that all intoxication is caused by alcohol. Prohibiting voluntary transactions remains popular not only with politicians but also with the voting public, even though almost all prohibitions so far has failed to achieve their goals.  Despite its failings, this is the path most often taken not only by the politicians but also by the general public, notwithstanding its dictatorial element. Why is it so? Where does this authoritarian tendency come from? Perhaps our genetic and social programming for parenthood predisposes us to it. Perhaps it is because most of us are constantly educated by the state. Perhaps it is the result of a lingering tribalism, whereby we like to see our own values dominate those who differ from us.

This collection has papers examining various areas where prohibitions thrive, namely:

•  recreational drugs, in particular cocaine, heroin and marijuana;

•  boxing;

•  firearms;

•  advertising;

•  pornography;

•  medicinal drugs;

•  prostitution;

•  gambling;

•  body parts for transplant;

•  alcohol

In the introduction itself, this book makes a few things clear. That prohibition places markets into the hands of criminal enterprises and criminalizes people who would not otherwise be criminals. And prohibition increases public ignorance, while effectively diverts law enforcement resources. For prohibition to succeed, organized interest groups are crucial.

Next paper is an overview of prohibition and economics, which explains the dichotomy between the individualistic approach of economics and the generalized nature of prohibition. This is followed by a paper on recreational drugs. History of the use drugs such as marijuana is traced, how the use of these spread across the world, what are the negative consequences of prohibition, and how that affects recreational use of drugs. This paper clarifies that prohibition is harmful in numerous respects, but the alternatives also are not perfect either. The dangers of Boxing and Firearms are analyzed in the next two papers. Then comes pornography. Here is discussed the benefits of free expression in general, including sexual expression, and the costs of suppressing any expression. It then focuses on the particular forms of sexual expression that have been targeted, like the prohibition of ‘degrading’ sexual expression, arguing that such a prohibition would advance women’s equality and safety. The role expensive drug testing requirements have on the availability of medical drugs is the one examined next. The paper discussing prostitution follows. Here, prohibition and other attempts by governments to curtail the market for sexual services are seen to infringe the basic rights of citizens. Firstly, such interventions infringe the basic rights of individuals to freely engage  in  sexual  relations  with  partners  of  their  choice;  it  is  morally wrong  for  the  state  to  seek  to  prevent  adult  women  and  men  freely choosing their sexual partners. Second, they impose costs on prostitutes, their clients and society as a whole. The paper discussing the issue of transplanting human body parts finds that innovation, even medical innovation, is frequently driven by the profit motive and, the free market offers both the possibility to profit from innovations  as  well  as  to  raise  the  capital  necessary  for  experimentation.

This collection is an exhaustive study of each of the ‘pet’ areas of administrators around the world. These include almost all the entertainments that have been constantly bearing the brunt, especially when it comes to offering an excuse for the states’ below par performance in any field. The view presented by each author is well balanced, giving all sides of the mostly controversial issues of life.  Though I have known of the significance of at least some of these, having a look at the collective influence on our society, of all these restrictions, reaffirms my doubt, one that I have expressed through my books ‘Why are we so much prone to wrong choices, especially in matters concerning our welfare?’ 

Book Review: The Righteous Mind

‘The righteous mind : why good people are divided by politics and religion’ by Jonathan Haidt is, as the author says, about a new way to think about two of the most important, vexing, and divisive topics in human life: politics and religion. Politics and religion are both expressions of our underlying moral psychology, and an understanding of  that  psychology is essential for better appreciation of the issue.

The author begins with his contention that human nature is not just intrinsically moral, it’s also intrinsically moralistic, critical, and judgmental. Such predisposition is what enabled us to form communities and create civilization, and it is the key to everything else. It explains why some of us are liberal, others conservative. It is often the difference between war and peace. It is also why we are the only species that will kill for an ideal.

Through this book, the author takes us on a tour of human nature and human history. In Part I is presented the first principle of moral psychology: Intuitions come first, and other reasoning follows later. Thereafter the model is enlarged to include the idea, as the author puts it, a challenge to “rationalist delusion.” Part II is about the second principle of moral psychology, which explains that morality appears in many hue and shades that may look drastically different from what we normally consider as harm and fairness. The next principle follows in Part III, the relevance of the hypocritical element in human moral standards and its link with our daily living is examined here. What is our perspective on morality, politics, and religion? What makes us to go altruistic? Why can’t we disagree constructively?  What makes some people bind themselves to the liberal view, some to the conservative view and some to no view at all?

The book also examines few other esoteric topics. Like ‘the influence of genetic factors on the issues like political viewpoints’. Or, ‘the regular backfiring of leftist reforms and the presence of a permanent blind spot in the leftist brain’.

I found this a concise and interesting discussion about the moral in the affairs of the state. This book explained why people are divided by politics and religion. The answer is, not because some people are good and others are evil.  Instead, the explanation is that our minds are designed for such collective conscience.  We are deeply intuitive creatures whose gut feelings drive our strategic reasoning. This makes it difficult—but not impossible—to connect with those who live in other matrices. And we are complex creatures having variable needs and challenges, and our morality is built on different configurations of the available moral foundations.