1. Uncertainty
I really enjoyed the "Discursive Practices of Skepticism and Fath in Cuban Santeria" article and its discussion of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. To me, the article could really be used as a good critique for the format of our class debates with an "East" vs "West" perspective (see blog post #1). As the article states "any attempt to describe a cultural phenomenon... will bear the imprint of the observer's perspective". Thus what one person constructs as east vs. west is very subjective to one's own cultural experience and biases. And the instructor clearly has his own subjective perspective to impose on us, as is elucidated through various comments made in class (i.e. west = scientific method, etc, and east = the tao de ching). I feel like the entire thing devolves into an exercise of typecasting stereotypes.
2. Causality
My thoughts on causality is there we only know so much about the way the universe works, so what cause and effect we can deduce from our limited knowledge can easily be upended.
3. Weird Universe
I don't think the universe is weird so much as fascinating because of all we don't understand, from dark matter to multiple dimensions to questions of infinity. At a scale the size of the universe, there seems to be room to theorize about beginnings and ends, infinite expansion... more than enough for our limited lives.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. It does feel like some kind of stereotype going on, i mentioned in my previous post, west sounds like we are referring to american culture/thoughts more. because i know that its not the same culture in south america or anywhere else.
I dont think the universe is wierd either, i wouldnt compare it at all. As humans its impossible to know how every thing works, or know what is the measure, weight, height of things. There is many things that cant be explained.
LR
I can certainly understand your frustration too. Maybe we can just change the words east and west to something else, because I do find our discussion topics interesting, but the terms are definitely ambiguous, and hard to tackle without giving into those stereotypical filters of thought. hmmm
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