Reflection 9: HMV & Prometheus and Bob.

It's funny that life, in its very simplistic form follows a cycle, a circular pattern. Every fall, trees lose their leaves only to blossom again in Spring. Regardless, let's admit it: Nobody likes circular processes. We do not like finding ourselves in the point where we started, despite all travel/effort/energy we put in the process.

We adopted linear Newtonian logic for that purpose- it made life and problems break down into 3 managable components: (1) Identification of the problem, (2) Trial/Error, (3) reaching a conclusion. The linear approach he adopted made him run into all forms of problems in identifying the problem, hence he faced all kinds of problems including the GRANDMOTHER FUNERAL example on page 74. How plausible is the application of a linear logic for a vicious cycle, OR life? Or perhaps the real question is what kind of a logical sequence (or pattern) do we need to follow in going about looking for answers to our questions?

Near the end of the class, I kind of managed to kind of get a sense out of what I read the night before, and I have to admit it really was a legitimate mindf***. I think Dr. Hogarth, and others did find the real (or scientific) explanation (about the TX) but settled for a completely different explanation (His Master's Voice) because it brought about a higher degree of comfort. The task of the scientists did not give the Manhattan Project kind of success, though it could have. It boiled down to scientists building a different (spiritual) explanation. If it really does boil down to our choice on what we'd like to believe and what we'd like others to believe, it requires a degree of manipulation power in the hands of the scientists...which by virtue of being scientists they automatically receive. So, it really does come down to what Aaron pointed out in class: it is not science that's evil. It's the scientists. What kind of scientists are legitimate enough to be attached such a degree of importance? On pg. 160 there's an account for the Christian physicists over the physicists following the Zen tradition or Buddhist physicists. (Please see emily's post for more on this). Dr. Hogarth draws a parallel between the closedness of the Christian religion and the closedness of the signal from the stars. This automatically legitimizes the "His Master's Voice" narrative for it automatically becomes a proof for the existence of a Master in possession of a voice. Cool. Science then automatically becomes a means to reach His Master, or to understand His Master closely...by putting humanity on the otherside of the receiver line. This, however, is not a very well constructed argument for His Mater's Voice interpretation is still our personal, subjective reflection of our longings. We filter the information through the lens of our sub-culture, as a human. So, if we rule out what makes us fundamentaly human: morality, ethics and language we can then perhaps not filter the information that is being given to us...we can receive it all as a whole. I guess this is what I mean by self-annihilation- not selflessness but rather nullification of "self" concept. Perhaps even stripping the notion of self property away. Or being so devoted to a cause/purpose that one forgets his/her individual role in it.

So can scientists mute a side to themselves by doing science? Do politicians numb a side to themselves by doing politics? Do philosophers mute a side to themselves by philosophizing? Do priests shut a side to themselves by preaching? I think all these questions have a very economical answer: It depends. Are they suicidal-- prone to killing some of their humanness to pursue a purpose they see fit? If that's the case, no wonder we refer occupations as "vocations" as if they are going to take us somewhere.

Near the end of the class I tossed out the implied meanings attached to "His Master's Voice" as in considering the human civilization on a lower level on a hierarchy. So in that sense assuming that the human civilization is on the caveman status relative to the aliens, our first encounter would resemble something like this:

-- In case you are not familiar with the series: Prometheus is an alien who tries to educate Bob, the caveman. Following is the first tape: the Encounter.